Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Resigns, Flees to India Amid Protests

In a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled to India following weeks of violent protests that have left the country in turmoil.

The resignation was confirmed by the Bangladesh Army and officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.

Reports from a leading national newspaper in Bangladesh indicate that Hasina, accompanied by her sister, departed the country in a military helicopter, seeking refuge in India.

According to the Reuters news agency, the Prime Minister and her sister are now taking “safe shelter” away from her official residence.

The capital city of Dhaka has been rocked by deadly clashes, with at least 95 people, including 14 police officers, killed in violent confrontations on Sunday. Hundreds more were injured in the chaos.

The violence continued on Monday, with at least six more fatalities reported in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas during further clashes between police and protesters.

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The protests, initially sparked by student demands to abolish a controversial quota system for government jobs, quickly escalated into widespread unrest. Last month alone, over 200 people were killed in clashes, fueling a growing movement demanding government accountability.

These protests have since evolved into calls for Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, to step down.

Hasina’s departure comes as anti-government protesters vowed to march to the capital on Monday to demand her resignation. In a sign of easing tensions, broadband internet and mobile data services have been restored across Bangladesh.