Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, announced that his mother will not return to politics, expressing her deep disappointment over the uprising against her leadership despite her efforts to improve the country, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
Joy, who served as an official adviser to the former prime minister until Monday, revealed in an interview with a British public service broadcaster’s Newshour program that Sheikh Hasina had been contemplating resignation since Sunday. She left the country for her safety following pressure from her family.
“She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power, it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today, it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia,” Joy stated, defending his mother’s record in office.
Addressing allegations of excessive force against protesters, Joy justified the government’s response given the violence faced by law enforcement. “You’ve had policemen beaten to death – 13 just yesterday. So what do you expect the police to do when mobs are beating people to death?” he said.
Political Turmoil and Resignation
Bangladesh is experiencing a fluid political situation as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post amidst mounting protests. Initially sparked by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, the protests evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.
At least 95 people, including 14 police officers, died, and hundreds were injured in clashes in Dhaka on Sunday, according to local media outlet Prothom Alo.
Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening after tendering her resignation. It remains unclear whether she will stay in Delhi or move to another location, with some reports suggesting she may proceed to London.
Security and Diplomatic Discussions
The Cabinet Committee on Security convened on Monday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in Lok Kalyan Marg. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and senior officials briefed PM Modi on the situation in Bangladesh.
Upon landing at Hindon Air Base, Sheikh Hasina held discussions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval regarding the current situation in Bangladesh and her future course of action, sources reported. The Indian Air Force and security agencies are providing security as she is moved to a safe location.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar had briefed PM Modi about the political unrest in Bangladesh.
Unrest and Chaos in Dhaka
Following Hasina’s departure, widespread celebrations and protests erupted across Dhaka and Bangladesh. Crowds entered the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s residence, and were seen taking various items from public buildings. Prothom Alo reported similar scenes inside the Parliament building.
Protesters also set fire to the Awami League’s Dhaka district office and Sheikh Hasina’s office at 3/A Dhanmondi in Dhaka. Chanting slogans, they celebrated the news of her resignation.
Shahjalal International Airport halted operations for six hours amid the intensified protests, local media reported.
Interim Government and Future Steps
Prothom Alo reported that Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman will soon hold direct talks with student-teacher representatives. In a televised address, General Zaman announced a period of political transition and the formation of an interim government.
Nahid Islam, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, stated that the outline of the interim national government would be formulated within the next 24 hours.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia called for calm across Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. This call for peace was communicated in a press release issued by Shamsuddin Didar, an official from the BNP chairperson’s press wing.
As Bangladesh navigates this period of political upheaval, the nation and the international community watch closely to see how the situation unfolds and what steps will be taken to ensure stability and progress.
06th Aug 2024
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