Bangladeshi protesters vandalize 'father of nation' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue
Thousands of Bangladeshi protesters defied the curfew and stormed the Prime Minister's residence in Dhaka following reports that Sheikh Hasina had resigned and fled the country. Celebratory crowds waving flags took to the streets before hundreds breached the gates of her official residence. The demonstrators also defaced the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father and country's first president, in the national capital.
Why does this story matter?
The student protest—ongoing since July—began with calls to abolish civil service job quotas but has since evolved into a broader anti-government movement. The protests in Bangladesh are rooted in a contentious quota system that allocates up to 30% of government jobs to the relatives of veterans from Bangladesh's 1971 independence war. Protesters argue that this system is discriminatory and favors Prime Minister Hasina's Awami League party, calling for a merit-based system instead.
4 lakh protesters swarm streets
Soldiers and police in Dhaka, equipped with armored vehicles, had blocked access to Hasina's office using barbed wire. Despite these efforts, large crowds swarmed the streets, dismantling the barriers. Local media estimated that around 4,00,000 protesters participated, although this number couldn't be independently verified. Sunday's violence resulted in at least 98 deaths, including 14 police officers, marking the deadliest day of the unrest. Since the protests started in early July, the death toll has risen to at least 300.
Watch: Rahamn's statue being vandalized
Hasina quits, flees to India
Meanwhile, Hasina has resigned and left the country for a "safer location," reportedly accompanied by her sister. Hasina, who has led Bangladesh since 2009, is onboard a helicopter en route to Agartala, Tripura, several reports said. However, reports in the evening said Hasina has landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district.
