RIGHT NOW: Fleeing in a helicopter after the death protests

Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh PM resigns - flees in helicopter

Trifeh Amini,

Martina Karpmyr

Updated 12.30 | Published 11.15

A shopping mall in Dhaka was set on fire during protests on Sunday. Photo: Rajib Dhar/AP

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence in the capital Dhaka has been stormed by protesters, according to several media outlets.

The Prime Minister has now resigned and fled the country in a helicopter.

That after several weeks of deadly protests in the country.

Massive demonstrations against a controversial law have rocked Bangladesh in recent weeks.

On Monday, several media reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned.

A temporary government must be appointed as soon as possible, states the military commander Waker-uz-Zaman in a televised speech.

de senaste veckorna.

Photo: Rajib Dhar/AP

Demanded the Prime Minister's resignation

At the end of June, peaceful student protests began in Bangladesh. The demonstrators demanded that the country's system of quotas for services within the state administration be abolished.

30 percent of all public services today must go to family members of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

The protests have since grown into a wider movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At least 300 people have so far died in violent clashes in the country. On Sunday alone, almost 100 people died, including at least 14 police officers, writes TT.

 

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Hasina has fled the country

On Monday, anti-government protesters announced they would defy a curfew imposed by the country's military on Sunday and march on Dhaka to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

According to several media outlets, Hasina's residence in the capital Dhaka has since been stormed by protesters.

Hasina, who has been Bangladesh's leader since 2009, has now resigned and – together with her sister – fled the country in a helicopter.

According to the newspaper's information, the Prime Minister is now on his way to the city of Agartala in India.

HasinaShall appoint a temporary government

An interim government must be appointed as soon as possible, says Bangladesh's military chief Waker-uz-Zaman in a televised speech on Monday morning, Swedish time.

During the day, the military chief and the country's president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, are expected. A solution is hoped to be presented later today, according to the BBC.

It is not yet clear who will lead the country.

Bangladesh: Prime Minister resigns - has fled

TT-AFP

Updated 13.01 | Published 06.55

Protesters in Bangladesh celebrate as they are hit by the news that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is stepping down. Photo: Rajib Dhar/AP/TT

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned. The Prime Minister's residence in the capital Dhaka has been stormed by protesters.

Hasina is said to have fled, and according to the BBC, she has left Dhaka in a helicopter on her way to the city of Agartala in India.

- Her security staff asked her to leave, she was given no time to pack, says a source to AFP.

The country's army chief confirms Hasina's resignation and says in a television broadcast that he wants to form a "transitional government".

The protests in Bangladesh have been going on for several weeks and at least 300 people have died and hundreds have been injured in the unrest.

On Sunday alone, almost 100 people died, including at least 14 police officers. Hundreds of people have been injured.

The protests are mainly directed against the country's system of quotas for positions in the state administration, which favors groups allied with the prime minister. The protests are also considered to be about corruption and a lack of democracy.

The authorities have tried to curb the unrest by, among other things, introducing curfews.

Hasina has ruled Bangladesh for 15 years. During that time, the country's economy has seen a boost, but the country has also taken a more authoritarian approach.