Bangladesh closes Hasina chapter: parliament to dissolve, new election promised

She leaves the country amidst a tumultuous day and the president announces decision to free Khaleda Zia

The curtain has closed on the political career of Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League supremo, who was pushed out by popular protests, ending her grip on power for over 15 years in a row and left Bangladesh.

The announcement of an interim government was made as students and citizens took control of Dhaka's streets on Monday.

The student protests demanding quota reforms in government jobs, which began 60 days ago, eventually snowballed into an anti-government movement.

Amid nationwide conflicts and over 300 deaths, Hasina was forced to step down.

After the prime minister's resignation, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has outlined plans to form an interim government to facilitate early elections.

In a televised address to the nation at 11:15pm, he said, "An interim government will be appointed as soon as possible. The current parliament will be dissolved as per the constitution."

Earlier, news broke out before an official announcement from Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman that Hasina had resigned and left the country by a helicopter.

She was accompanied by her sister, Sheikh Rehana, and they have reportedly arrived in Agartala, India.

From there, they were flown to Hindon Airbase near Delhi in a C-130 military aircraft.

NDTV reported that she is expected to soon depart for London.

According to Indian daily, The Hindu, Hasina has also sought political asylum in the UK.

Meanwhile, the public, in a show of total defiance, stormed and took control of the prime minister’s official residence, the Ganabhaban.

The scenes of jubilation among the masses relieved memories of the 2022 storming of the Sri Lankan president's residence and the 1996 resignation of BNP leader Khaleda Zia under similar pressures.

In the wake of these developments, the army chief has announced plans to form an interim government through consultations with various political parties and civil society representatives.

He said every act of violence and injustice would be addressed, aiming to restore peace in the country.

FROM EXILE TO LONGEST SERVING PM

The eldest among Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s five children, Hasina was born in Tungipara, Gopalganj, on Sept 28, 1947.

Her political career began during her student days at Eden Women's College in the 1960s, where she was elected vice-president of the Eden College Students' Union in 1966-67 as a candidate for the Chhatra League.

Later, while studying at Dhaka University, she served as general secretary of the Chhatra League's Ruqayyah Hall unit, graduating in 1973. During the War of Independence from Pakistan in 1971, she was held captive along with her mother, sister Rehana, and youngest brother Sheikh Russel.

In 1968, Hasina married MA Wazed Miah, a nuclear scientist. The couple had two children: Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Hossain.

Following the assassination of the nation’s founding father during the massacre of the family on Aug 15, 1975, Hasina was in Europe with her husband Wazed Miah. They were visiting Belgium from Germany at that time, and her sister Rehana was also with them, which is how they survived the carnage.

After her father's assassination, Hasina could not return to Bangladesh immediately. In her absence, the Awami League elected her as the party's president during a council in 1981.

She has led the party since that pivotal moment, officially taking charge upon her return home on May 17, 1981.

At that time, the party that led Bangladesh's struggle for independence was in disarray, without a leader. Many leaders were either imprisoned or in hiding as the nation had been living through the repressive military regime of Gen Ziaur Rahman.

Hasina took charge and reorganised the Awami League from the ground up through a lengthy struggle and eventually leading it to electoral victories in 1996, 2008, 2014, 2018, and most recently in 2024.

Over 44 years of her 77-year life, she has been at the helm of the party, serving as the head of government for more than 20 years in five terms.

THE FALL FROM GRACE

In 2018, the government in a notification abolished the job quota system, and following a High Court ruling in late June this year declaring it illegal, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement took to the streets in early July.

Initially, they demanded the reinstatement of the government notification, meaning the abolition of quotas, but later brought forward demands for reform.

The situation took a turn for the worse on Jul 14. At a press conference on Hasina’s China visit on that day, the ousted prime minister asked, “If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't benefit, does that mean the grandchildren of Razakars (Pakistani collaborators) will?"

Hasina’s comments stirred angry response from students at Dhaka University and other universities across the country. They expressed their indignation by shouting slogans such as – ‘Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar. Who says it? Who says it? The autocrat’.

The Chhatra League took out a procession on that night chanting the slogan, ‘Who are you? Who am I? Bengali, Bengali’.

A day after, in the evening, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said in a statement, "Chhatra League will deal with the audacity shown at Dhaka University."

On Jul 15, clashes between the activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Chhatra League workers at Dhaka University, spilled outside of the campus.

Three individuals, including a Chhatra Dal leader in Chittagong, a Chhatra League worker, and a hawker at Dhaka's Science Laboratory, and a student named Abu Sayed at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur were killed in the violence.

The following day, in a televised speech to the nation, Hasina called on students to remain patient. However, a 'complete shutdown' programme was announced on Jul 18.

On that day, clashes with police in Uttara and Badda led to several fatalities, turning the situation dire. From noon to evening, attacks on various state properties simultaneously occurred across Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Several state facilities were attacked that afternoon. The violence continued for three days, resulting in more than 200 deaths.

Sometimes the protesters pressed for an 8-point charter of demands and sometimes a 9-point list of demands. In the wake of the widespread violence, the student movement announced its one-point demand for the government’s resignation from a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar on Aug 3.

At least 100 people, including police personnel, died in clashes with protesters across the country the following day. A nationwide indefinite curfew was imposed that evening while the student movement against discrimination declared the ‘Long March to Dhaka’ programme for Monday.

Tens of thousands of people began to march towards Shahbagh and other parts of Dhaka in response to the protest called by the student movement platform after 11am on Monday.

Later, around 3:35pm, Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Hasina had resigned.

EFFORT TO FORM AN INTERIM GOVT

Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government to rule the country after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In a televised statement around 4pm on Monday, the army chief urges all sides to remain calm and refrain from clashes and vandalism.

He also vowed that the interim government will ensure justice for about nearly 300 people killed in the recent violence surrounding the quota reform protests and subsequent anti-government movement.

The army chief said he would take the proposal for the interim government to President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The president held a meeting with different political leaders, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, chiefs of the three forces including Zaman, civil society and student movement representatives at Bangabhaban on Monday night.

While addressing the nation after the meeting, the president said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has submitted her resignation letter and I have accepted it.”

“A discussion was held with the chiefs of the three forces, other political leaders and representatives of the civil society and the student movement platform over the prime minister’s resignation and other circumstances in the wake of the anti-discrimination movement.”

He said an interim government would be formed as soon as possible, and the current Parliament would be dissolved in accordance with the law.

He also revealed that the decision was made unanimously to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

However, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s chief coordinator Nahid Islam says the proposal or outline of an interim government will be announced within the next 24 hours through discussions with various groups tied to the popular uprising.

Ahead of the president’s address to the nation, he said at a press conference that: “The student movement platform will not support the formation of the government that is not supported or proposed by the students and people.

"It could be a military-backed government or a president-led government. The students and people will not accept such a government.”

The president said, “The people arrested during the student movement against discrimination and those detained in false cases will be released. The families of the dead in the student movement will be compensated. Necessary measures will also be taken for the treatment of the injured.”

He called on the political parties to stop the violence and acts of sabotage to normalise the country’s law and order.

He said, “The law-enforcing agencies have been instructed to take strict measures to save people’s lives and state peoperty. I urge everyone to step forward for the safety of minorities and the protection of state assets.”

Seeking contributions from everyone to keep moving forward the country’s economy, factories and administration, Shahabuddin said, “All educational institutions will be opened soon following the discussion with student leaders and teachers. Those involved in the killings and violence will be brought to justice.”

He said all offices across the country will run at normal hours from Tuesday.

However, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement wants Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to serve as the chief advisor to the interim government.

In a video message at 4:10am on Tuesday, Nahid revealed the name of the microcredit guru and said more information about the rest of the government would be disclosed later in the morning.

According to Nahid, Yunus has agreed to their proposal to restore peace.

However, amid intense protests, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, Yunus dismissed rumours of entering active politics during an interview with the Indian news outlet, The Print. Currently in Paris, Yunus said, "I am not the type to enter politics."

Nevertheless, coordinator Nahid emphasised in the video statement that the Nobel laureate has agreed to the proposal from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

He said, "We have decided that internationally renowned Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus will be appointed as the chief advisor in the interim government, and we have also spoken with Dr Muhammad Yunus. He has agreed to take on this significant responsibility in response to the call of the students and public to safeguard Bangladesh."

EUPHORIA AND CHAOS

After Hasina's resignation and escape, thousands erupted in wild celebrations.

These events coincided with widespread violence, including murders, assaults on establishments, vandalism, arson, and attacks on several police stations, leading to a state of anarchy.

The Prime Minister’s Office, the parliament building, and the Ganabhaban were stormed by crowds, leading to widespread looting.

Attacks were also directed at the residences of Awami League ministers and MPs across Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Police personnel were among those killed, with 35 bodies reported at Dhaka Medical College Hospital alone.

This violence has raised concerns among academiains, political observers, and human rights activists.

They have called for the restoration of peace while some view the change as a victory.

Looting began in various places, including Ganabhaban and the parliament building, from Monday afternoon.

The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 was attacked and set on fire.

Several AL offices were vandalised and set ablaze, along with multiple police stations and other buildings.

Political scientist Sabbir Ahmed told bdnews24.com that Bangladesh is facing a critical period filled with legal complications. The interim government that is being discussed is not in the constitution.

As a result, it remains to be seen how it will move forward, he added.

Human rights activist Khushi Kabir expressed deep frustration, anguish, and fear over the explosive situation.

She said despite the army chief's call for trust in the military, the current situation appears to be out of control.

"They are present in some areas of Dhaka but appear unable or unwilling to control the rest of the country.

"They do not have control over or are not managing the rest of the country. So, what purpose does their presence serve? “

The situation is dire nationwide, she added.