New Delhi/Dhaka: Amid escalating turmoil, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vacated Dhaka, leaving her official residence, Ganabhaban, for a more secure location. A source closely linked to the beleaguered leader informed AFP of this development.
Accompanied by her sister, Hasina sought refuge as violent protests demanding her resignation intensified. The source disclosed her intent to address the nation, thwarted by the surging chaos.
Defying curfew, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded Dhaka’s streets, breaching the Prime Minister’s palace. Armored vehicles, soldiers, and police attempted to barricade routes with barbed wire, but the determined masses overwhelmed these defenses, dismantling barriers.
Local media reports suggest an estimated 400,000 protesters took to the streets, though exact figures remain unverified. The situation escalated further as Bangladesh’s army chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, prepared to address the nation following the deaths of 98 individuals in fierce clashes yesterday, raising the toll to over 300 since the protests began last month.
Ms. Hasina’s son has called upon the country’s security forces to thwart any coup attempts, while a senior advisor acknowledged her resignation as a possible outcome amid growing pressure.
The protests, initially sparked by civil service job quotas, have morphed into one of the most severe unrests during Hasina’s 15-year tenure. The movement, now a broader anti-government uprising, has united diverse segments of Bangladeshi society, including film stars, musicians, and singers, with protest songs widely circulating on social media.
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