Bangladeshi protesters storm prime minister’s palace after reports of her fleeing
by Ekta ChaubeyIn a dramatic turn of events in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, thousands of protesters defied a curfew to storm Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s palace following reports of her resignation and departure from the country.
The incident took place in Dhaka on August 5.
Visuals showed jubilant crowds waving flags on the streets of Dhaka, followed by hundreds breaching the gates of Sheikh Hasina’s official residence. A few men from the crowd were seen vandalising the statue of Ms Hasina’s father, with others supporting his actions. The crowd appeared to be enraged and distressed amidst the chaos.
According to the reports, soldiers and police, equipped with armored vehicles, had blocked routes to Ms. Hasina’s office using barbed wire. Despite these measures, vast crowds poured into the streets, dismantling the barriers. AFP reporters observed the massive turnout of protesters, with local media estimating up to 400,000 people on the streets, though this figure remains unverified.
Yesterday was the deadliest day of the unrest, with at least 98 people killed, including 14 police officers. This brings the total death toll to at least 300 since the protests began in early July.
Initially sparked by opposition to civil service job quotas, the rallies have escalated into some of the most severe unrest of Prime Minister Hasina’s 15-year tenure, now demanding the 76-year-old leader’s resignation.