Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned, marking the end of her tenure following weeks of nationwide unrest.
The announcement came from the country’ s army chief, General Waker- Uz- Zaman, who revealed that Hasina has fled the capital city of Dhaka by helicopter.
The news sparked widespread celebrations, with thousands of people taking to the streets to rejoice at the end of Hasina’ s rule.
To further symbolize the end of her era, many protesters stormed the prime minister’ s official residence.
The demonstrations, which began last month over government job quotas, evolved into a broader movement demanding justice for the estimated 300 people killed since last month.
Students have been marching on Dhaka, calling for accountability and reform.
According to Reaz Ahmad, executive editor of the Dhaka Tribune, the army should lead Bangladesh to a free and fair election. In an address to the nation, General Waker- Uz- Zaman also said an interim government will be formed to run the country.
Curious videos of protesters vandalising a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ms Hasina’ s father. He was the tallest leader in the country’ s history who led its fight for Independence from Pakistan.
The visuals mark a massive shift in the country’ s political landscape. The legacy of Mujibur Rahman, fondly known as Bangabandhu, is no longer a symbol of Bangladesh’ s war of liberation. Instead, it represents her daughter’ s politics that protesters claim has focused on suppressing dissent.