Bangladesh In Turmoil: 24 Hours After PM Hasina's Ouster - Five Key Developments

Bangladesh has been plunged into a political turmoil following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (5 August).

The resignation, which came amidst violent protests that began over a government jobs quota and morphed into a broad campaign seeking Hasina's ouster, has left the nation grappling with a power vacuum and a deeply divided society.

After resigning, Hasina left the country and arrived in India.

Police firings, mob beatings, and arson across the country killed at least 135 people before and after Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday.

Here are the five key developments that happened in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours:

1. Formation of an Interim Government

Following Hasina's resignation, the Bangladesh Army announced the formation of an interim government to run the country.

The army chief, in a televised address, stated that the interim government would oversee the transition and ensure a peaceful and fair election.

2. Release of Khaleda Zia

Hours after Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of Khaleda Zia, the jailed former Prime Minister and key opposition leader.

Khaleda Zia, who is currently in poor health and hospitalized following her 2018 conviction for corruption, is the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the rival of Hasina's Awami League.

3. Sheikh Hasina won't be returning to politics: Son

Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has said that his mother will not be returning to politics following her resignation and departure from Bangladesh after a 15-year tenure as Prime Minister.

Joy also strongly denounced the ongoing protests, characterising them as terrorism due to the associated violence and loss of life.

He defended his mother's tenure as Prime Minister, highlighting her role in transforming Bangladesh from a failing state into one of Asia's rising tigers.

4. Parliament dissolved after protesting students' warning

The Bangladeshi President on Tuesday dissolved the Parliament after student leaders warned of further escalation of the protests.

Bangladesh's protesting student leaders demanded earlier on Tuesday that parliament be dissolved and warned of a "strict programme" if their deadline was not met.

Nahid Islam, one of the key organisers of the movement against Hasina, said in a video on Facebook with two other student leaders that parliament should be dissolved by 3 pm local time on Tuesday and asked "revolutionary students to be ready" if that did not happen.

5. International response

The United States welcomed the announcement of an interim government and urge any transition be conducted in accordance with Bangladesh’s laws.

US State Department's spokesperson Matthew Miller at the daily briefing in Washington on Monday said that they are monitoring the situation carefully. 

"The United States stands with the people of Bangladesh. We urge all parties to refrain from further violence. Too many lives have been lost over the course of the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead," he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres advocated for a "peaceful, orderly and democratic transition."

Meanwhile, India has said that it has been in touch with the "authorities in Dhaka" and expressed concerned about attacks on minority Hindu community's businesses and temples in Bangladesh.

In a statement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation in Bangladesh is "still evolving" and that the MEA is in touch with the Indian community through its diplomatic missions.