DHAKA – Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed resigned from the post after years of rule after country’s army gave her 45-minute ultimatum to quit amid mounting protests against controversial quota system in government jobs despite imposition of nationwide curfew, international media reported.
Hasina, who took oath as the prime minister for fourth straight term in January this year, has reportedly flown to India in a military helicopter. She had tried to record a speech but she could no do so.
Protest erupted in Bangladesh last month after student groups demanded the government to withdraw the controversial quota system in government jobs as they alleged that it would be used to benefit the Hasina’s political party.
Nearly 300 people were killed in clashes with law enforcers since the protests erupted. At least six more people have been killed the protesters march towards the capital city.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has announced that an interim government, with the participation of all parties, will be formed to run the affairs.
“After holding a fruitful discussion with all political parties, we have decided to form an interim government. We will speak with President Mohammed Shahabuddin now to resolve the situation,” Dhaka Tribune quoted him as having said.
He urged people to stop protests promised that the new government will ensure justice for all the deaths that took place during the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement.
