Bangladesh PM and Army Chief addressed the nation amidst the crisis

Bangladesh: Amid growing political crisis in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with her sister has left the capital Dhaka for a ‘safer place’ due to security concerns. There have been reports that protesters have marched inside the Gono Bhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister. A senior adviser to Prime Minister Hasina had earlier said that her resignation is likely, when asked if she would resign. Unconfirmed reports suggest that she may have already resigned from her post and has been sent to India. Bangladesh Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman addressed the nation at 4 pm local time on Monday and urged protesters to remain calm. He urged people to stop protests and said that the issues raised by the public will be deliberated upon.

What is happening in Bangladesh?

1) The country is in a civil war-like situation, with thousands of people demanding Hasina’s resignation, while deadly clashes had hit the country just a day earlier, leaving nearly 100 people dead.

2) At least six people were killed in fresh violence today during clashes between protesters and security forces in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas, according to local media reports by The Daily Star newspaper.

3) Student activists are among thousands of protesters who called for a “long march to Dhaka” demanding Hasina’s resignation. The nationwide call to join the march prompted the Hasina government to order a complete internet shutdown in the country.

4) Leading Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo reported that broadband internet was ordered to be restored at around 1:15 pm, but there were no instructions about mobile internet connections.

5) Armed security personnel were seen patrolling the streets of the capital on Monday. As some protesters, mainly students, gathered, police fired tear gas shells to disperse them.

6) The latest tensions stem from the quota protests started by students in July. The protests have resulted in more than 300 deaths so far.

7) The protests had stopped after the country’s top court abolished most of the quotas on July 21. However, they resumed last week, as the public demanded an apology from Hasina for the violence.