Bangladesh Army takes ‘interim charge’ of country after Hasina resigned

DHAKA: Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, the Bangladeshi Army has taken over the interim charge of the government and started negotiations over the formation of the government in the country.

In an address to the nation, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the chief of army staff, confirmed that Sheikh Hasina had resigned and that an interim government would be formed to run the country.

Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman announced a transitional government, requesting the citizens to trust the army and stop violence. We will return peace to the country, he added.

Army Chief Zaman said there is no need for a curfew or a state of emergency as he called on protesters to give the army “some time”, promising them the armed forces would find a solution. He also urged student protesters to “stay calm and go back home”.

“We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he said, calling student protesters to “stay calm and go back home”.

He said representatives of all the main political parties were present in discussions with the army.

“We have invited representatives from all major political parties, and they have accepted our invitation and committed to collaborating with us,” the general added.

Jubilant-looking crowds waved flags, some dancing on top of a tank in the streets of Dhaka on Monday morning before hundreds broke through the gates of Hasina’s official residence.

Bangladesh’s Channel 24 broadcast images of crowds running into the compound, waving to the camera as they celebrated.

Before the protesters had stormed the compound, Hasina’s son urged the country’s security forces to block any takeover from her 15-year rule.

“Your duty is to keep our people safe and our safe and to uphold the constitution,” her son, US-based Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said in a post on Facebook. “It means don’t allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty.”