Bangladesh COUP underway as PM flees country and protesters storm palace after nearly 100 killed in bloody clashes
BANGLADESH'S leader has resigned and fled the country in a military helicopter.
Thousands of rioters have stormed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official residence in Dhaka today after weeks of protests.
The deadly student demonstrations against the government have seen hundreds of protesters killed by police and a public curfew enforced.
Hasina, 76, has now resigned and fled the country in a military helicopter and reportedly landed in India’s northeastern city of Agartala.
She fled after massive protests hit the streets today and police reportedly opened blockades.
Another 56 people died during the upheaval.
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Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the country and said the army is going to form an interim government with representatives from political parties.
He said: "The country is going through a revolutionary period."
"I promise you all, we will bring justice to all the murders and injustice. We request you to have faith in the army of the country. I take full responsibility and I assure you to not get disheartened," he said.
"Please don't go back to the path of violence and please return to non-violent and peaceful ways."
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It is not yet clear who will head the new government.
Footage showed protesters storming the Prime Minister's palace, named Ganabhaban, and trashing it.
Protesters took pictures in the Prime Minister's chair, swam in the pool, and stole soft furnishings, clothes, and even pets.
Other clips showed people inside the residence eating food in a buffet, reportedly sitting on Hasina's bed, and even paddling in a small boat in a private river.
Thousands more are in the streets of the capital waving flags and celebrating the resignation of Hasina.
Protesters in Dhaka also climbed atop a large statue of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father, and began chiselling away at the head with an axe.
Students Against Discrimination, a group which has spearheaded the protests, said that military rule was not a solution following the "revolution".
They said: "We have driven out fascism, and we will not allow fascism to take root in Bangladesh in the future. We are committed to uprooting any fascist systems."
Protesters are also reportedly storming and looting the houses of other politicians in Hasina's party.
Hasina was in power for 15 years and was elected for a fourth term only in January - a vote that was boycotted by her main opponents.
Thousands were jailed in the lead-up to the vote with Hasina facing accusations of growing increasingly autocratic.
Protests against government job quotas have rocked the country for weeks, leaving many dead.
At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, were killed in clashes on Sunday, according to local news, with hundreds more injured.
On Sunday the internet had been cut in the country but connectivity returned Monday.
The government had heavily limited it over the course of the protests as it sought to cut the protesters off from each other.
Neighbour India has issued a "high alert" along its border with the nation of 170m people.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they were concerned about the violence in the country.
They said: “The very significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers, is completely unacceptable.
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“The right to peaceful protest must be protected and never subject to violence, and we call on the authorities to release all peaceful protesters and ensure due process is followed for those charged and prosecuted.
“We hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security to people in Bangladesh”
Why were there anti-government protests in Bangladesh?
Student demonstrations began last month with protesters demanding how government jobs are distributed.
An old quota system gave families of independence war veterans with Pakistan and other groups preference of the coveted government jobs.
The students said unfair system should change, with the government and its supporters initially trying to crush the protests.
Bangladesh, a former British colony, is one of the least developed countries but has a population of 171m people.
The protests became widespread and turned into street battles with the police, army, and supporters of the government.
Around 300 were killed as the continued and tens of thousands have been injured.
Protesters demands eventually changed to an end of the government, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing the government today.
