After student-led protests culminated in Hasina's removal, over 300 people have died since July. Hasina is now reportedly in India, while Khaleda Zia's release has been ordered.
Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and flight from Dhaka due to intense protests, the army head of Bangladesh Wakeruz Zaman announced on Monday that he would establish an interim administration.
In a national address on state television, Zaman declared, "We will form an interim government," and Hasina resigned.Over 300 people have died as a result of protests, including 56 more slain on Monday. Offices close and internet services are curtailed as thousands of people break a statewide curfew by taking to the streets. Once Hasina leaves, protesters storm and pillage the PM's palace. According to Indian media, ousted Hasina arrives at a military facility close to Delhi. President Khaleda Zia and others detained are ordered to be released. Curfew to be lifted by the military on Tuesday at daybreak.
According to an AFP count based on police, government officials, and hospital physicians, at least 300 people have died as a result of the demonstrations and violence that have rocked Bangladesh since July.
Student protest organizations have called for the removal of a contentious government employment quota system. This demand has grown into a drive to remove Hasina, who was elected to a fourth term in a row in January despite the opposition's boycott.
A day after horrific confrontations in Bangladesh claimed the lives of at least 91 people, students there called for a march to Dhaka earlier today in violation of a statewide curfew. Clad in a four-star general's cap and adorned with medal ribbons on his green fatigues, Zaman declared that he was "taking full responsibility" for Hasina's ouster.
"We are living in a revolutionary era," stated Zaman, 58, who had only assumed the position of army chief on June 23. Being a distant relative, Hasina had trusted him.
The career army officer vowed to "address all injustices," though it was unclear at first whether he would lead the new administration. "It's time to put an end to the violence; the country has suffered greatly, the economy has been hurt, and many people have died."
Zaman announced that he would shortly meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin to discuss the next steps after holding discussions with leaders of the main political parties, except Hasina's long-ruling Awami League.
As reported by Bangladesh's Dhaka Tribune, he demanded an end to "all violence in the name of protest" and pledged that the incoming government would guarantee justice for every fatality that occurred during the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement.
Shortly after Hasina was overthrown and the military seized control, President Shahabuddin also issued an order for the release of prominent opposition figures and jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
A conference chaired by Shahabuddin "decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately," according to a statement sent by the president's press office.
The statement further stated, "The meeting has decided to free everyone who has been arrested during the student protests." On Tuesday around daybreak, the military of Bangladesh announced that it would lift the curfew enforced to put an end to protests. The military released a statement saying, "Offices, factories, schools, colleges... will be open" on Tuesday at 6 a.m. (0000 GMT).
According to an official statement, the army chief informed officers on Saturday that the military "always stood by the people." The army of Bangladesh has earlier encouraged everyone to abide by the curfew regulations. It said in a statement late on Sunday that "the Bangladesh army will perform its promised duty in line with the Bangladesh constitution and existing laws of the country."
The curfew was put in place to protect people's lives, property, and significant state buildings, and it stated, "In this regard, the people are requested to abide by the curfew as well as give full cooperation to this end."
Following months of intense political turmoil, the military proclaimed an emergency in January 2007 and created a caretaker administration with military support that lasted for two years.
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