Sheikh Hasina: Bangladesh PM resigns as protestors storm presidential residence

Bangladesh PM Hasina Resigns And Leaves Amid Protests

Check out: Gunshots heard and items being hurled at violent demonstrations against the government.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has stepped down from her position following a series of violent protests against the government. Demonstrators gathered outside her official residence and insisted that she resign.

Ms Hasina, who is 76 years old, had already departed to a location deemed safer by one of her advisors, just before a group of people gathered at her residence.

The person stepped down from their position one day after over 90 individuals lost their lives and hundreds more were hurt during a recent series of protests.

The protests in Dhaka and other areas started when people asked for quotas in government jobs to be removed, but then grew into a large movement against the government.

Demonstrators obstructed a highway in the main city of Bangladesh.

On Monday, the entrances to Dhaka were obstructed as army units and police were stationed throughout the city.

The internet was completely turned off and then turned back on a few hours later.

The government also proclaimed a three-day "break" - largely seen as a curfew - that shut down businesses and the courts.

Despite this obstacle, many people still gathered in the city in response to a request from protest organizers to begin a "long march to Dhaka." Emotions were running strong following the fatalities, which were primarily among the protesters, on Sunday.

The cops and some followers of the ruling party were spotted firing live bullets at demonstrators who were against the government. The police also deployed tear gas and rubber bullets.

Thirteen police officers lost their lives on Sunday during a violent attack on a police station in Sirajganj district, where thousands of people participated. Two additional officers passed away from their injuries the following day. In other areas, there were also reports of multiple protesters being killed.

The number of people who have died during the period of chaos is now around 300, with the majority being protesters who were shot by security forces.

Reports indicated that the government has instructed mobile operators to cease their 4G services starting on Monday.

The country is currently experiencing another almost complete national internet blackout after previous restrictions on social media and mobile services, according to NetBlocks, an organization that watches over internet freedom.

On 18 July, the government of Bangladesh turned off the mobile internet in an effort to stop the protests. Broadband was turned back on a week later, and mobile internet services resumed shortly after that.

However, the protesters in Bangladesh have not been stopped by either the internet blackout or the nationwide curfew that was put in place on Sunday.

Earlier this week, a large group of demonstrators took to the streets in Uttara, a neighborhood in Dhaka. They were shouting and calling for Ms. Hasina to step down, while soldiers and police officers kept a close eye on the situation from different locations in the city.

In the face of demands for her to step down, Ms. Hasina appeared to be firm in her stance at first. Following a discussion with security officials on Monday, she stated that the demonstrators were not actually students, but rather individuals intent on causing chaos in the country.

Over the weekend, Minister Anisul Huq from the Law and Justice department spoke on the BBC's Newshour show about how authorities were practicing self-control.

"If we hadn't held back, it could have turned into a violent situation. I suppose there's only so much patience we can have," he continued.

There have been reports of deaths and injuries in various parts of the country, such as the northern districts of Bogra, Pabna, and Rangpur.

Last Sunday, a large crowd assembled in a central plaza in Dhaka, while violent incidents also occurred in various areas of the city.

A police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed the AFP news agency that the entire city has become a war zone. He mentioned that a large group of demonstrators, numbering in the thousands, had ignited fires in vehicles such as cars and motorcycles near a hospital.

Asif Mahmud, a prominent leader in the countrywide movement for peaceful resistance, urged demonstrators to gather and march towards Dhaka on Monday.

"It's time for the last demonstration," he declared.

Students Against Discrimination, a group involved in the protests against the government, encouraged individuals to refrain from paying taxes or any bills related to utilities.

The students are demanding that all factories and public transportation services be closed down.

In the last two weeks, security forces have detained an estimated 10,000 people in a significant crackdown. The individuals taken into custody consist of those who support the opposition and students.

Several former military members have shown their backing for the student movement, including former army leader General Karim Bhuiyan, who stated to the press: "We urge the current government to remove the military from the streets without delay."

He and other former military members strongly criticized "appalling murders, torture, disappearances, and widespread detentions".

Some of the injured individuals were taken away by the demonstrators.

The demonstrations started when students started marching in the streets last month to protest a rule that set aside thirty percent of government job positions for family members of veterans from Bangladesh's war for independence against Pakistan in 1971.

The government has reduced most of the allocation after a decision from the Supreme Court, but students are still demonstrating, asking for justice for the victims and for Ms. Hasina to resign.

Previously, Ms Hasina extended an offer for open and unrestricted communication with the student leaders.

"I wish to join the protesting students of the movement and hear them out. I desire no confrontation," she stated.

However, the student demonstrators have refused to accept that proposal.

According to reports from Bangladesh's media, the majority of individuals who lost their lives during the protests last month were allegedly killed by law enforcement officers. Additionally, thousands of individuals sustained injuries during the demonstrations.

The government claims that the police only shot in self-defense and to safeguard state assets.

More information was provided by Kelly Ng in Singapore.