Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly resigned and fled the country in response to escalating protests, according to Al Jazeera.
Hasina is alleged to have boarded a helicopter bound for India after protestors defied a nationwide curfew to attack the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka.
Hasina departed the nation with her sister, Sheikh Rehana.
On Sunday, thousands of protestors called for her resignation.
The protests against public service employment quotas began last month and quickly developed into one of the largest unrests of Hasina’s 15-year leadership, leading to broader calls for the 76-year-old to resign down.
On Sunday alone, at least 37 people were killed, with opposite sides fighting with sticks and knives and security forces firing weapons, bringing the total killed to at least 243 since the protests began in July.
More than 200 people were killed in July’s unrest, with many of them shot by police. In the last two weeks, security agents have reportedly detained approximately 10,000 people.
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The arrestees comprised both opposition sympathizers and students. On Sunday, police dispersed protests across Bangladesh with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Approximately 200 persons were hurt.
A nighttime curfew was imposed as authorities attempted to quell nationwide protests.
Last month, the students protest began with a demand to eliminate quotas in civil service employment, but it has since expanded into a larger anti-government movement.
As tensions escalate, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff, Waker-Uz-Zaman, declared that the prime minister has resigned and that an interim administration would now govern the country.
He asked citizens to maintain trust in the army, which he claimed will restore calm to the country.
“We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” the politician declared.
