Bangladesh’s President dissolved Parliament on Tuesday. This paves the way for the formation of an interim government following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure after a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising. A statement from President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s office also confirmed that Hasina’s arch-rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, has been freed from house arrest.
Student protesters had threatened more demonstrations if Parliament was not dissolved. The decision was taken following meetings with the heads of defence forces, leaders of political parties, student leaders and some civil society representatives, the Presidential statement said.
The student leaders said they want Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser to the interim government and a spokesperson for Yunus said he has agreed to their demand.
“Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted,” Islam had said in a video message earlier, adding, “We wouldn’t accept any army-supported or army-led government.”
Yunus, 84, and his Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace prize for work to lift millions out of poverty by granting tiny loans of under $100 to the rural poor of Bangladesh but he was indicted by a court in June on charges of embezzlement that he denied.
Hasina’s flight on Monday ended her 15-year second stint in power. She had ruled the country for 20 of the last 30 years, having inherited the political movement of her father, state founder Mujubur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1975.
Bangladesh’s Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman was due to meet student leaders to discuss the formation of an interim government that is expected to hold elections soon after it takes over. Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation on Monday. Hasina flew to India and is staying at a safe house outside New Delhi.
Hasina arrived at a military airfield at Hindon near Delhi on Monday after departing from Dhaka. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met her there. However, Indian officials did not provide further details about her visit or plans. India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed a closed-door all-party meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the crisis in Bangladesh. He also read out a statement in Parliament later in the day.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
