Bangladesh Prime Minister Resigns Amid Violent Clashes, Protesters Storming Palace

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned following escalating protests that culminated in protesters storming her official residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka. The unrest, which began over civil service job quotas, has spiraled into one of the most significant political crises of Hasina’s 15-year rule.

Amidst the turmoil, sources report that Sheikh Hasina and her sister have fled to a safer location as tensions reached a boiling point. An anonymous source told AFP, “She and her sister have left Ganabhaban for a safer place,” adding that Hasina was unable to deliver a scheduled speech due to the chaos.

Defying a curfew, hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Dhaka. Footage circulating on social media showed jubilant crowds entering Ganabhaban, waving at cameras and celebrating. Despite the deployment of soldiers and police with armored vehicles and barbed wire, the sheer number of demonstrators overwhelmed security measures.

Local media estimate that around 400,000 people participated in the protests, although this figure remains unverified. The demonstrations have turned deadly, with 98 fatalities reported in Sunday’s clashes alone, bringing the total death toll since the protests began to over 300.

Amid the unrest, Bangladesh’s army chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, is expected to address the nation. In a bid to maintain order, Hasina’s son has urged the country’s security forces to prevent any takeover attempts, while a senior advisor indicated that her resignation was a “possibility.”

What started as rallies against civil service job quotas has transformed into a broader anti-government movement, uniting people from various sectors of Bangladeshi society, including celebrities and artists. Songs supporting the protests have gone viral on social media, amplifying the call for change.