Sheikh hasina

Amid the growing tensions in the country regarding the reservation protests, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly resigned from her post.

According to reports, she has left her home and is headed for India.

In a televised address to the nation, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman urged the citizens to remain patient and maintain peace. He added that an interim government will be formed in the country.

He added that armed forces will not open fire at the protestors. Adding to his brief, he said, “We appeal to everyone for peace. We had positive discussions with the students. We will meet your demands.”

The army chief invited the students for “positive discussions” and appealed to them to stop violence and destruction. He also appealed media for their support in pacifying the situation.

Former PM Hasina is suspected to be currently onboard a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, which is currently in the Indian airspace, reportedly heading further beyond the Bihar-West Bengal border, as per a flight tracking site.

Around 100 people were killed and over 1,000 injured in the clashes that took place between the police and protesters on Aug 4.

“With yesterday’s count, the total death toll in anti-government protests crossed 300 in just three weeks, making it the bloodiest period in the history of Bangladesh’s civil movement,” reported Bangladesh news media.

The agitators announced to organise a ‘March to Dhaka’ programme on Aug 4. However, a curfew was imposed today after a staggering number of people lost their lives in the riots.

The students had been protesting against a 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters who wrested independence for Bangladesh from Pakistan in a bloody civil war in 1971 in which, according to Dhaka officials, 3 million people were killed in the genocide by Pakistani troops and their supporters.

After the Supreme Court slashed the reservations to 5%, student leaders put the protests on hold but the demonstrations flared up because the students said the government ignored their call to release all their leaders, making the resignation of PM Hasina their primary demand.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)

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