Bangladesh Crisis: A day after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina amid massive anti-government protests, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved the parliament, paving way for new elections to replace the former Prime Minister, who had been in power since 2009. This was one of the key demands of the student protestors.
In a press release Bangabhaban (President’s office) said, “The decision to dissolve the parliament was taken following the president’s discussions with chiefs of three staffs of armed forces, leaders of different political parties, representatives of civil society and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.”
Sheikh Hasina had been forced to flee Bangladesh with her sister after tendering her resignation, following weeks of demonstrations against her rule that had taken an ugly turn, descending into a violent unrest over the weekend.
The press realease, as reported by Bangladeshi daily newspaper The Daily Star, also stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Zia was freed and the process to free those arrested between July 1 to August was underway.
Zia was released from house arrest after she convicted on corruption charges by Hasina’s government in 2018.
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According to a report by the Associated Press, Dhaka seemed to be calmer on Tuesday, as no reports of protestors thronging Hasina’s residence surfaced. However, some people were seen posing for selfies outside her residence, which was looted by protestors on Monday.
With the Parliament now dissolved, Bangladesh awaits the formation of a new government, as student protestors vouched for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to head the interim government, which is to formed soon.
A key student leader Muhammad Yunus called Hasina’s resignation the country’s “second liberation day.”
On Monday, Bangladesh’s president and its top military commander said that an interim government would be formed soon to preside over new elections.
The month-long protests, which began with students voicing their disapproval of the quota system laid down by Hasina’s government, turned into an anti-government protest with time, with hundreds, including protestors and a few policemen, losing their lives.
Shortly after resigning, Hasina fled to India by a military helicopter on Monday as protesters defied military curfew orders to march on Dhaka. Eventually, thousands of them stormed her official residence, Parliament, and other buildings associated with her party Awami League, and her family.
Military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zamam had said that he was taking temporary control of the country after Hasina resigned.
Earlier Tuesday, protest leader Sarjis Alam told AP that the president was asked to dissolve Parliament by 3:00 p.m and to renew demonstrations.
“We have proposed the name of Muhammad Yunus with his consent, now if someone else comes from among the MPs, we will not allow that to happen,” he said.
Meanwhile, confirming Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told parliament that she requested approval to come to India for the moment “at very short notice”.
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