TDS Desk:

With the resignation and flee of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh sees a new dawn like fresh independent today (Tuesday). The entire nation dreams to return of the peace in the soil of Bangladesh amidst creation of a new history.

Dictator Sheikh Hasina resigned from the Prime Minister’s position and fled the country on Monday after hundreds of people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations that began as protests seeking job quota reforms and grew into a movement demanding her downfall.

The flight into exile ended Hasina’s second 15-year stint in power, during which she ruled for 20 of the last 30 years.

Hasina left the country for her own safety at the insistence of her family, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy told the BBC World Service.

Following PM Hasina’s resignation, the cabinet has also been dissolved according to the constitution.

According to the constitution, after the prime minister resigns, the other ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the cabinet are also considered to have resigned. As a result, the cabinet automatically dissolves. However, the members of the cabinet remain in their positions until their successors assume their duties.

On 7 January this year, voting took place for the 12th National elections. In the election that was held without its main rival, the BNP, the Awami League achieved a decisive victory. A new cabinet was formed on 11 January, with Sheikh Hasina as its leader. The cabinet initially had 37 members. On 1 March, seven additional state ministers were included, bringing the total number of cabinet members to 44.

Earlier, President Mohammed Shahabuddin held discussions with senior leaders of political parties, civil society, and representatives of the anti-discrimination student movement regarding the formation of an interim government.

BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir informed that a decision had been made to dissolve the parliament and form an interim government soon after discussions with the President.

In the face of a massive student-led public movement, Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, after which Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government to lead the country.

On Monday evening at Bangabhaban, the President held discussions with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Sheikh Mohammad Masud, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka University Law Department teacher Dr Asif Nazrul, Jatiya Party’s GM Quader, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Anisul Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Mamunul Haque and Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmed, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Hefazat-e-Islam’s Mahbubur Rahman, Islami Andolan leader Faizul Karim, Ganatantra Manch’s Zonayed Saki, and Zaker Party’s Shamim Haider.

After these meetings, the President also held discussions with the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, Arif Talukder, Abdullah Al Hossain, and Mobashwera Karim. The chiefs of the three armed forces were present at these meetings.

A press release from the president’s office stated that it was unanimously decided in the meetings that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would be released immediately. It was also decided to release all those detained in connection with the anti-discrimination student movement and various recent cases.

After the meeting with the President, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir told journalists that several fundamental decisions had been made. The parliament would be dissolved, and an interim government would be formed promptly. Khaleda Zia would be released without delay, and those who have been unjustly detained since 1 July, including those detained for political reasons, would be freed. Following Hasina’s resignation and subsequent flight, all political parties, student leaders, and students would work together to restore law and order.

“I would like to appeal to the entire nation through you—we have achieved a great victory, a great success. To preserve this success, we must ensure that it does not take a wrong turn. We must exercise restraint and avoid attacking anyone or damaging any institutions out of anger, hatred, or revenge. Especially, we must ensure the protection of our friends and brothers who are religious minorities. It is our sacred duty to protect them.”

“I would like to appeal to all our party leaders and workers to step forward and save the country from this grave tendency. Don’t allow anyone to take advantage of this opportunity to attack others. At this critical juncture of the nation, let us support the military and unite to protect this country. We will undoubtedly protect it from the hands of internal and external enemies. Khaleda Zia has appealed to all of you to be patient, remain calm, protect the country, and protect the nation. Ensure the success of the initiative taken today.”

Mirza Fakhrul said that Tarique Rahman had fully supported this movement and that they had made all necessary arrangements to bring him back to the country. “Inshallah, we will be successful.”

SHEIKH HASINA FLEES COUNTRY

Amid a wave of tens of thousands of students and people of the country, the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned, flees with sister Rehana as people took over Ganobhaban.

People have also taken over the Ganobhaban, the doors of which were opened. Footage from airline tracker Flight Radar has shown an aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force—a Lockheed C-130J Hercules—flying over India’s Jharkhand.

“She and her sister have left Ganobhaban [the premier’s official residence] for a safer place,” the source told AFP. “She wanted to record a speech. But she could not get an opportunity to do that.”

A video surfaced on social media shows Sheikh Hasina arriving at an airport in a grey military helicopter. At the airport, a green private car and a black Toyota Prado were already waiting.

Upon landing, five or six individuals in black blazers escort Sheikh Hasina towards the black Prado. Throughout the process, she remains silent and does not engage with anyone.

When they reach the car, the driver opens the rear door for her, and Sheikh Hasina enters the vehicle without making eye contact or initiating any conversation.

Sheikh Hasina met with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval at the Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, approximately 30 km from Delhi, NDTV reports.

Sources indicate that Sheikh Hasina is expected to travel to London later, potentially seeking asylum in the UK. Her Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport plane will remain parked near the Indian Air Force’s C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars, according to Indian news agency ANI.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the evolving situation in Bangladesh by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. It remains unclear if Modi will hold a meeting with Sheikh Hasina during her stay in India.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force and other Indian security agencies are providing security to Hasina, who is being moved to a safe location, ANI said, quoting unnamed sources.

Hasina is likely to meet her daughter Saima Wazed, who is based in New Delhi and working as the World Health Organisation’s regional director for South East Asia.

‘OUTLINE FOR INTERIM GOVT IN 24 HOURS’

Md Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, announced that an outline for an interim government will be formulated within the next 24 hours.

“Our one-point demand was the fall of the dictator Sheikh Hasina and the abolition of the fascist system. We believe that the resignation of a Sheikh Hasina would not solve all the problems. Rather, we have to make a new Bangladesh, a new political settlement, by abolishing the state structure through which such fascism is created,” said Nahid Islam while speaking at a press conference in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Monday night.

He said that within the next 24 hours we will propose the outline of the interim national government. “We will propose the outline of the interim government by discussing with everyone,” he added.

“We declare those who were martyred in this movement as national heroes. We said earlier that Sheikh Hasina’s resignation will not be the only solution. They have been involved in a massacre before, starting from the Pilkhana massacre, to various massacres, disappearances, murders, human rights violations, and voting rights violations. Sheikh Hasina must be held to account,” Nahid said.

“Those who aided fascism supported fascism would also be brought to justice,” he added.

“We will not support any form of government other than student-citizen-supported government,” Nahid continues.

“In the next 24 hours, we want to see those who are detained in jail on the streets with us. We call upon the freedom-seeking students to stay on the streets until the national government is framed,” Nahid said.

OFFICES, EDN INSTITUTIONS, COURTS REOPEN TODAY

All government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private organisations, factories and all educational institutions in the country will remain open from today, according to a release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Monday night.

The curfew was in force from Monday midnight to 6am today, it said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has announced that all courts across the country will resume operations on Tuesday.

Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, the Supreme Court’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday night.

The statement indicates that from Tuesday, the subordinate courts will carry out their judicial and administrative functions as usual.

Furthermore, starting tomorrow, both divisions of the Supreme Court (the Appellate Division and the High Court Division) will also resume their judicial and administrative activities.