In a historic political shift, Bangladesh’s parliament has been dissolved following the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the nation amid escalating student-led protests that turned deadly.
The dissolution aligns with protesters’ demands and sets the stage for the formation of an interim government. Citizens are keenly observing the ongoing discussions among military leaders and political figures about the next steps for the nation.
Recent reports indicate that over 100 lives were lost in violent confrontations during a chaotic Monday, marking the deadliest day since protests began. Moreover, numerous police stations were set ablaze, prompting the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) to declare a strike until assurances of safety for all police members are secured. The BPSA has attributed the violence to government forces, claiming they were forced to take drastic measures.
Overall, it is estimated that more than 400 individuals have died during the unrest, which has seen authorities respond with severe oppression against demonstrators. Initially sparked by peaceful demands from university students to eliminate job quotas, the protests evolved into a broader movement against the government.
A culmination of the unrest occurred when protesters stormed the prime minister’s residence shortly after Hasina’s departure to India, thus concluding her nearly 15-year reign.
In light of the recent turmoil, Bangladeshi leaders are under increasing pressure to establish a transitional government to mitigate the risk of a power vacuum and subsequent violence. Shortly after Hasina’s resignation, Army Chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to form an interim administration, emphasizing the urgency to halt the violence.
Student leaders have expressed their opposition to a military-led government and are advocating for Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus to assume the role of chief adviser for the interim government. Yunus has indicated his willingness to step in during this critical period, stating that he could not turn down the students’ request for assistance.
According to Yunus’s spokesperson, he is en route back to Dhaka from Paris, where he was receiving medical treatment.
Additionally, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been released from years of house arrest. As the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Zia had previously boycotted elections in 2014 and 2024 due to concerns over the fairness of the electoral process under Hasina’s government.
The BNP is now poised to push for elections under a neutral caretaker administration, an opportunity that has emerged with Hasina’s exit.
Zia, who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges she claims were politically motivated, is now navigating a changing political landscape.
She is not the only political figure to regain freedom; activist Ahmad Bin Quasem was also released from detention as of late. Quasem’s lawyer reported that he had been missing since his abduction by security forces in 2016, highlighting the troubling trend of enforced disappearances under Hasina’s rule.
Rights advocates express hope that the release of political prisoners signals a positive development from the government, though many families of detainees remain in anguish, awaiting news of their loved ones, some of whom have reportedly died while incarcerated. Activists have gathered in Dhaka, demanding accountability from the authorities.
In neighboring India, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar voiced deep concern regarding the instability in Bangladesh, underlining the importance of restoring law and order in the region. Confirming Hasina’s last-minute request for refuge, he noted her arrival in Delhi shortly after leaving Bangladesh.
In response to the situation, India has also increased troop presence along its border with Bangladesh, with heightened alertness among border security forces to manage the evolving landscape.
