Bangladesh’s leader resigns and flees country as protesters storm palace

Crowds in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka are celebrating today’s news that their Prime Minister of fifteen years, Sheikh Hasina, has resigned and fled the country.

Fearing for her life, the PM was evacuated via helicopter from a nearby military base this morning – at 14:25 local time – shortly after tens of thousands of furious protestors streamed into her residence in the city’s centre.

The palace siege follows a night of bloodshed, with over one hundred protesters estimated to have been slain by government forces on Sunday evening alone. An estimated 14 police officers were also killed during last night’s violent unrest. Over the last month, at least three hundred demonstrators have been killed in protests against civil service quotas they claim unfairly favour the Awami League ruling party.

“We want justice” is the rallying cry of the masses in Dhaka, who are now demanding a complete, immediate end to the Awami League’s reign.

In an initial televised address, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff, Waker-uz-Zaman, alleviated fears of a military coup by announcing that an interim government will be formed with the cooperation of the President and opposition parties by the end of the day. Suspense has gripped Bangladesh, as its 170 million people await the outcome.

Details on the latest developments are currently limited since many of the nation’s broadband and mobile networks remain down due to government shut-offs of internet services.

While the quota-related unrest has been especially bloody, and ultimately led to Hasina’s downfall today, Bangladesh has experienced violent disorder for several years due to rising costs of living, suppression of the BNP opposition party, and in response to authoritarian laws policing online speech.

Reports indicate that Hasina is now in India, hosted by her long-time ally Modi. Her resignation will lead to mixed reactions amongst Britain’s sizeable Bangladeshi community, as some cheer on the ousting of a heavy-handed authoritarian and others fear for their relatives amidst the instability.

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