Chicago – August 05, 2024
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh stepped down on Monday following several weeks of violent protests nationwide. General Waker-uz-Zaman, the army chief of Bangladesh, made the announcement. This decision came after a large group of protesters broke into the prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka, the capital city.
Photos from the scene showed cars on fire near Hasina’s home as the police struggled to control the large crowds. Earlier the same day, forces had clashed with demonstrators in that area. A CNN journalist in Dhaka reported that at least 91 people died, and many others were injured on Sunday during these conflicts. The protesters were demanding an end to specific job quotas in government they felt were unfair.
Sunday’s death toll was the highest in one day from protests in recent times in Bangladesh. It even exceeded the deaths on July 19, when 67 people died during demonstrations. Last month, UNICEF reported that 32 children were among the casualties. Following Hasina’s resignation, the military plans to establish an interim government and has urged students to help maintain peace.
