Reports from Bangladesh have confirmed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left the capital, Dhaka, following deadly violence that has engulfed the country. This morning, anti-government protesters stormed Hasina’s official residence.
Hasina allegedly left her residence in a military helicopter as it was being overrun.
A Sudden Departure
Hasina has since flown to India, where she reportedly resigned from her position as prime minister. Ajit Doval, India’s national security advisor, met with Hasina at the Indian Air Force lounge inside Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. The hastily arranged, high-level meeting implies that the Indian government will play a crucial role in the unfolding drama of Bangladesh’s latest political crisis.
The New York Times reports on the latest development following a day of violent protests, which left almost 100 dead:
Ms. Hasina, 76, had ruled Bangladesh since 2009. She was forced out by weeks of protests that began peacefully and then transformed into deadly clashes with security forces. She was spotted at the airport in the capital, Dhaka, but hours after her resignation, her exact location was not clear.
The student-led protests grew into a broader movement seeking the removal of Ms. Hasina, who was seen as an increasingly authoritarian leader. On Sunday, the deadliest day of the protests, almost 100 people were reported killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators across Bangladesh.
Ms. Hasina, one of the world’s longest-ruling female leaders, had blamed the violence on her political opponents and called for “resisting anarchists with iron hands.”
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Ms. Hasina played a pivotal role in the politics of Bangladesh, a nation of around 170 million people that proclaimed its independence in 1971. She won re-election to a fourth consecutive term in January. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s charismatic founding leader, who was killed in a military coup in 1975, when Ms. Hasina was 28. She served as prime minister from 1996 to 2001 and regained power in 2009.
Seeking Asylum: A New Chapter for Sheikh Hasina?
There is speculation that the exiled politician might be engaged in diplomatic conversations with the United Kingdom for political asylum. Preliminary reports indicate that Hasina could leave for London tonight or choose to remain in India.
Unrest in Bangladesh: A Deepening Crisis
Meanwhile, more videos are emerging from Bangladesh, depicting local Islamists exploiting the chaos to attack the homes of the Hindu community. The increasing violence underscores the escalating instability in a nation with a well-documented history of tragedy.
Bangladesh has a history of political instability and military coups since its independence in 1971. The nation has experienced several coups and coup attempts that have significantly impacted its political landscape.
1. Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1975 Coup)
–Date: Aug. 15, 1975
–Details: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader and first Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was assassinated along with most of his family members in a military coup led by a group of junior army officers.
–Outcome: The assassination led to the rise of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, who briefly served as president, and initiated a period of military rule and political instability.
2. Counter-Coup and Assassination of Khaled Mosharraf (1975)
–Date: Nov. 3-7, 1975
–Details: In a counter-coup, Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf took control, attempting to restore order and legitimacy within the military. However, he was assassinated just days later in a subsequent coup led by Colonel Abu Taher.
–Outcome: Mosharraf’s assassination led to Major General Ziaur Rahman’s rise to power.
3. Ziaur Rahman’s Rise to Power (1975-1977)
–Background: After the chaotic events of 1975, Ziaur Rahman gradually consolidated power. Initially, he was Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator, but by April 1977, he became president of Bangladesh.
–Details: Rahman declared martial law and sought to stabilize the country, eventually lifting martial law and founding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
4. Assassination of Ziaur Rahman (1981 Coup Attempt)
–Date: May 30, 1981
–Details: President Rahman was assassinated in a military coup in Chittagong led by Major General Abul Manzoor. The coup attempt was unsuccessful in establishing a new regime, but it resulted in Ziaur Rahman’s death.
–Outcome: Vice President Abdus Sattar assumed the presidency but faced political challenges and eventual military takeover.
5. Ershad’s Coup (1982)
–Date: March 24, 1982
–Details: Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad led a bloodless coup, ousting President Sattar. Ershad declared martial law and assumed the presidency, ruling until 1990.
–Outcome: Ershad’s regime was marked by efforts to legitimize his rule through controversial elections, but it faced growing opposition and protests leading to his eventual resignation.
6. Popular Uprising Against Ershad (1990)
–Background: Continued political unrest and economic difficulties led to mass protests against Ershad’s rule in 1990.
–Details: A popular uprising, involving students, political parties and civil society, pressured Ershad to resign on December 6, 1990.
–Outcome: Ershad’s resignation paved the way for democratic elections and a return to civilian rule under a caretaker government.
7. Failed Coup Attempts
–1996: A coup attempt by a faction of the military aimed at overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Hasina was thwarted.
–2011: Another attempted coup by a group of mid-ranking army officers was foiled, with the government maintaining control.
More Recent Political Landscape
Since the 1990s, Bangladesh has maintained a unitary parliamentary republic, albeit with political tensions and increasing unrest.
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