Bangladesh PM flees the country after weeks of deadly protests

Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, resigned after tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in the city of Dhaka to call for her resignation.

This comes after weeks of anti-job quota demonstrations that included altercations between demonstrators and followers of the ruling party as well as other incidents of police violence. Hundreds of people died as a result of the crackdown, prompting calls for Hasina’s resignation.

Prior to The creation of an interim administration was declared by the nation’s army leader, Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a televised speech on Monday night. He offered the families of those slain justice and made a plea for peace.

Joyful demonstrators swarmed Hasina’s home as word of her departure spread, stealing furniture, TVs, and fish. A statue of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is regarded as the “father of the nation” for spearheading the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, was also defaced by others.

Bangladesh was controlled by Hasina and her Awami League Party in 2009. During this time, the nation’s economy grew steadily, but detractors charged her with rigging elections and targeting her political rivals.

Several Indian media agencies said on Monday night that she had arrived in New Delhi by plane and was going to London to apply for political asylum.