Bangladesh parliament dissolved after PM flees country

The parliament of Bangladesh has been dissolved following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country amidst escalating protests. This significant political shift occurred just a day after Ms. Hasina stepped down from her position, which had been under increasing pressure due to weeks of student-led demonstrations that turned violent. The protesters had been demanding the dissolution of parliament, and with this development, there is hope for the establishment of an interim government. The people of Bangladesh are now in a state of anticipation, as the military chief is engaging in discussions with political leaders and protest organizers to determine the next steps. Reports from local media indicate that more than 100 individuals lost their lives during violent confrontations on Monday, marking the deadliest day since the protests began. In addition, numerous police stations were set ablaze, prompting the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) to declare a strike until the safety of their members is guaranteed. The BPSA has also pointed fingers at the authorities, claiming they were 'forced to fire' during the unrest. Overall, it is estimated that over 400 people have died as the government responded with severe measures against the protests. The unrest began in early July when university students peacefully demanded the removal of quotas in civil service jobs, but it quickly escalated into a broader anti-government movement. The situation reached a boiling point when protesters stormed the prime minister's official residence, shortly after Ms. Hasina fled to neighboring India, effectively ending her nearly 15-year rule. In the wake of her resignation, Bangladeshi leaders are facing mounting pressure to form an interim government to prevent a power vacuum that could lead to further violence. Within hours of her departure, the army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, assured the public that an interim administration would be established, stating on state television, 'it is time to stop the violence. ' Student leaders have made it clear that they will not accept a military-led government and are advocating for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to serve as the chief adviser of the interim government. Mr. Yunus has agreed to take on this role, expressing, 'When the students who sacrificed so much are requesting me to step in at this difficult juncture, how can I refuse? ' He is currently returning to Dhaka from Paris, where he was undergoing a minor medical procedure, according to his spokesperson. In a related development, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, a prominent opposition leader, has been released from years of house arrest, as confirmed by a presidential statement. Ms. Zia chairs the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which boycotted elections in 2014 and again in 2024, arguing that free and fair elections were impossible under Ms. Hasina's leadership. The BNP has long sought elections to be conducted under a neutral caretaker administration, a demand that has now gained traction following Ms. Hasina's exit. Ms. Zia, who is 78 years old, served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 but was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges, which she claims were politically motivated. She is not the only opposition figure to be released; activist Ahmad Bin Quasem has also been freed from detention, according to his lawyer, Michael Polak. Rights organizations have reported that Mr. Quasem was taken by security forces in 2016, one of many cases of forced disappearances that occurred during Ms. Hasina's rule. Mr. Polak noted that there were numerous instances during Quasem's detention when he was feared dead, and the uncertainty was one of the many tools of repression used by the regime. He expressed hope that the decision to release political prisoners is a positive sign of the government's intentions. However, he also pointed out that not all families of political prisoners received good news, as several had died while in custody. Earlier in the day, at least 20 families of political prisoners gathered outside a military intelligence building in Dhaka, anxiously awaiting news about their loved ones. Sanjida Islam Tulee, a coordinator of the Mayer Daak (The Call of the Mothers) campaign group, stated, 'We need answers. ' Meanwhile, across the border in India, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar expressed his deep concern until law and order is visibly restored in Bangladesh, a country with which India shares a lengthy border and has close economic and cultural ties. He confirmed that Ms. Hasina made a request to travel to India on very short notice and arrived in Delhi the previous evening. In response to the situation, India has also deployed additional troops along its border with Bangladesh, with Mr. Jaishankar stating, 'Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation.