Sheikh Hasina Resigns and Escapes to India as Deadly Protests and Military Takeover Unfold
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on Monday, ending her 15-year tenure amidst violent protests and mounting public outrage over a controversial quota system for government jobs. The situation escalated to unprecedented levels, forcing Hasina to abandon her official residence in Dhaka, boarding a military helicopter with her sister, and escaping across the border.
The unrest reached a boiling point the day after nearly 100 people were killed in clashes with authorities, with the nation’s army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman stepping in to address the crisis. Speaking on state television, General Waker-uz-Zaman, clad in military fatigues, announced that Hasina, 76, had resigned and that the military would form an interim government. “The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence. I hope after my speech, the situation will improve,” he declared.
The general revealed that he had engaged in discussions with main opposition parties and civil society members, notably excluding Hasina’s Awami League. He pledged that the military would investigate the brutal crackdown on student-led protests, which had ignited widespread fury and left at least 300 dead since early July. “Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish those responsible,” he assured. “I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing.”
The protests were initially sparked by a quota system that reserved up to 30% of government jobs for family members of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, also benefiting those with connections to the Awami League. Despite a Supreme Court ruling last month mandating a drastic reduction of the quotas, the demonstrations evolved into a broader condemnation of Hasina’s leadership, making her the focal point of public anger.
The turmoil resulted in widespread arrests, with over 11,000 people detained in recent weeks. Schools and universities were shut down, and at one point, authorities imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew. On Sunday, the government shut off mobile internet connections in an attempt to quell the unrest, briefly cutting broadband services on Monday morning. Despite these measures, protesters called for a “non-cooperation” campaign, urging citizens to boycott paying taxes, utility bills, and attending work. This call led to significant disruptions, with offices, banks, and factories opening but public transport largely halted due to fears of violence.
Hasina’s departure ignited jubilation among protesters, who waved flags and danced atop tanks in the streets. Hundreds broke through the gates of her official residence, with some looting furniture and books, while others relaxed on beds and raided refrigerators. The dramatic scenes were broadcasted live, showing crowds smashing a statue of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a national hero.
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, cautioned that Hasina’s abrupt exit could create a power vacuum with unpredictable consequences. “If it’s a peaceful transition, with an interim set-up taking over until elections are held, then stability risks would be modest. But if there is a violent transition or a period of uncertainty, it could lead to more destabilization and problems inside and outside the country,” he warned.
Before the protesters breached the palace compound, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, had urged security forces to prevent any takeover. “It means don’t allow any unelected government to come into power for one minute, it is your duty,” he posted on Facebook from his base in the U.S.
Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh since 2009, won her fourth consecutive election in January amidst widespread allegations of vote-rigging and suppression of dissent. Her government faced criticism from rights groups for using state institutions to entrench its power and eliminate opposition, often through extrajudicial killings.
As the nation grapples with this unprecedented upheaval, the future remains uncertain. The military’s promise to restore order and investigate the violence will be closely watched, as Bangladesh navigates this tumultuous period and seeks a path to stability.
In the meantime, the world watches as Bangladesh confronts the aftermath of a leader’s flight and a nation’s descent into chaos.
