DHAKA, Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin has dissolved the national parliament, setting the stage for new elections following the dramatic resignation and subsequent flight of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The decision comes after weeks of intense protests and violent unrest against Hasina’s administration.
President Shahabuddin also ordered the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia from house arrest. Zia, a prominent rival of Hasina, had been convicted on corruption charges in 2018 under Hasina’s government. The streets of Dhaka were notably calmer on Tuesday, with no new reports of violence, although the mood remained tense as jubilant protesters gathered outside Zia’s residence.
The protests, which initially centered around a controversial government job quota system, escalated into a broader challenge to Hasina’s 15-year rule. On Monday, Hasina fled to India by helicopter amid a violent surge of demonstrators who stormed her official residence and other properties linked to her party. The unrest resulted in at least 109 deaths, including 14 police officers, and hundreds more injured, according to media reports.
As the nation awaits a new government, there are calls from key student leaders for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim administration. Yunus, who is currently in Paris for the Olympics, described Hasina’s resignation as the country’s “second liberation day.” Student leader Nahid Islam confirmed that Yunus had agreed to this proposal.
General Waker-uz-Zaman, the country’s military chief, and the figurehead president announced late Monday that an interim government would be established to oversee the upcoming elections. The military, which has a history of significant political influence in Bangladesh, has assumed temporary control following Hasina’s resignation.
Protest leader Sarjis Alam emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “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.”
Yunus, known for pioneering microlending and winning the Nobel Prize in 2006, had faced corruption charges he claimed were politically motivated. The student organizers are expected to propose additional names for the interim cabinet and are prepared to advocate strongly for their choices.
In the wake of the turmoil, Dhaka’s main airport suspended operations for eight hours due to security concerns, while the southwestern district of Satkhira witnessed a major jailbreak involving 596 prisoners. Police in Dhaka have largely retreated to central barracks following attacks on their stations.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has called for restraint, urging citizens not to take the law into their own hands. Tarique Rahman, the party’s acting chairman, stated, “It would defeat the spirit of the revolution that toppled the illegitimate and autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina if people decide to take the law into their own hands without due process.”
Volker Türk, the UN’s human rights chief, has stressed that the transition of power must align with Bangladesh’s international obligations and ensure inclusive participation.
Hasina, who was elected for a fourth consecutive term in January amid widespread opposition boycott and accusations of electoral fraud, arrived at a military airfield near New Delhi on Monday. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed her presence, noting that Hasina’s visit was arranged at short notice but did not clarify her future plans.
The unfolding political crisis in Bangladesh marks a pivotal moment in the country’s turbulent history, with significant implications for its future stability and governance.
