Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the capital as protesters stormed her official residence, in scenes similar to what was seen during the mass protests in Sri Lanka.
Just a few days ago Hasina had told Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, that the protests during the quota reform movement were aimed at creating a “situation like Sri Lanka” to oust her government.
As feared, thousands of protesters defied a curfew and took to the streets and eventually stormed her official residence in the capital Dhaka.
Videos shared on social media showed protesters damaging items inside her official residence, eating food and sleeping on what is believed to be the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s bed.
Meanwhile, a video also showed who was believed to be Sheikh Hasina fleeing the capital on a military helicopter.
A controversial job quota scheme ignited the mass protests which later turned violent.
Hasina responded by shutting down universities and using the police and military to crack down on the protesters.
Several people were shot dead by the Police during the crackdown.
“Actually they had planned to create Sri Lanka type violence and oust the government,” Nayeemul Islam Khan, Hasina’s press secretary, had told the media after Hasina’s meeting with Pranay Verma.
In 2022, then Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee after protesters stormed his official residence in Colombo.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said that an interim government will now run the country.
