Bangladesh military announces formation of caretaker government as PM resigns, flees country

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on Monday, August 6, amid escalating violence and mass protests.

His departure follows weeks of deadly protests, including a storming of his official residence by demonstrators defying a military curfew.

In a national speech, the army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announcement the formation of an interim government to take control of Bangladesh.

His resignation follows weeks of intense protests that accomplished A night of violence left nearly 300 dead on Sunday, August 5, and led to the establishment of a curfew.

Nationwide protests exploded a month ago, following a Bangladesh High Court ruling to reinstate a quota system, reserving 30 percent of government jobs for descendants of veterans of the 1971 independence war.

Events, directed The protests, mainly organised by students who considered the quota unfair, were violently repressed by the authorities for several weeks. accomplished in the deaths of more than 200 protesters last month.

The deaths sparked fresh protests demanding justice and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in power since 2009, after a previous mandate from 1996 to 2001.

His party, the Awami League, which emerged from the independence movement, has consolidated its power in recent years, winning four consecutive general elections. The last election, in January, was boycotted by the opposition and voter turnout was particularly low.