Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin engaged in discussions with representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement at Bangabhaban, his presidential residence. The student leaders, arriving in a microbus around 6:00 PM, reportedly focused their attention on the formation of an interim government.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the chiefs of the navy and air force joined the meeting at 7:30 PM. This meeting signifies the deep political uncertainty gripping the nation, following the abrupt resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst a massive uprising against her administration.
The unrest, initially sparked by student protests demanding reforms to the public service quota system, has escalated into widespread violence, claiming the lives of at least 142 people since the prime minister’s resignation.
The protests, originating from a call for change in the quota system, took a dramatic turn. Despite the government’s attempts to appease the protesters by announcing reforms on July 23, the clashes continued, resulting in nearly 200 fatalities by that date. The demand for Hasina’s resignation intensified on August 3, ultimately leading to the swift collapse of her government.
Sheikh Hasina, who had held power since 2009, was serving her fourth consecutive term, marking her fifth overall in office. The situation in Bangladesh remains volatile and the nation anxiously awaits the formation of a new government to restore stability.
