Bangladesh protest: After weeks of violent demonstrations, joyous demonstrators flocked to Dhaka’s streets to celebrate Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister. But an hour into the festivities, demonstrators were spotted destroying Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman’s statue and making their way to Sheikh Hasina’s home, Ganabhaban, and Jatiya Sangsad, the Bangladesh Parliament.
The partygoers stole from Hasina’s home. They took her sarees, her Dior suitcase, raw fish out of refrigerators, and a lot more. Images from social media showed scenes of mayhem, with people grabbing office supplies, carpets, and even filing cabinets.
The Bangladeshi Parliament, or Jatiya Sangsad, was overrun by mobs. They were observed smoking within the Parliament and making a commotion.
BREAKING – HAPPENING NOW IN BANGLADESH PARLIAMENT pic.twitter.com/88UIiPJ7Yw
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 5, 2024
The seriousness of the situation was further highlighted by the fact that some protestors were observed eating, taking pictures, and relaxing on tables within the palace.
In the meantime, coordinators of Bangladesh’s anti-discrimination movement urged students to protest peacefully until the desired outcome is reached, making sure that no one gets a chance to “loot” in the circumstances that have arisen in the nation since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.
Hasina’s resignation was announced earlier in the day by Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, who also declared the formation of an interim administration.
JUSTIN: Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country.
Peaceful protest, massive protest has effect!!!
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He promised “justice” for all people and pleaded with demonstrators to end the bloodshed.
Nahid Islam, one of the anti-discrimination movement’s coordinators, urged students to make sure that nobody had the chance to “loot” from the current circumstances.
In an interview with Bengali-language news channel Channel 24, published by the leading Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo, Islam said, “We have to protect our national wealth. No one should get a chance to loot on this occasion.”
Hi @jacksonhinklle . Please support Bangladeshi students! in Bangladesh going on a peaceful and reasonable protest.. Government is fully corrupted . students are protesting for quota! but police are firing on innocent students without any hesitation by the order of government.. pic.twitter.com/v4kt1K25VK
— WhatsThePoint🔥🔥🔥 (@photo_editor72) July 31, 2024
He said that, among other things, their movement aimed to alter the repressive system and urged the students to sit in the streets peacefully until the desired outcome was reached.
An outline of the interim government’s structure will be announced later tonight at the Sark fountain in Karwan Bazar, the coordinators said.
In less than two weeks, rallies against the Hasina government have claimed the lives of almost 300 individuals. The demonstrators called for the removal of the divisive quota system, which allocated thirty per cent of government positions to the kin of veterans who participated in the 1971 War of Independence in Bangladesh.
(With inputs from agencies)