Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on helicopter to India's eastern state of West Bengal, according to media reports, which is just across the border. Another report, however, said she was headed to India's north-eastern state of Tripura on Monday after weeks of escalating protests against a controversial government job quota system descended into violence and grew into a broader challenge to her 15-year rule. Thousands of demonstrators stormed her official residence, a day after nearly 100 people died in the unrest.
Hasina’s departure threatens to create even more instability in the nation on India’s border, already dealing with a series of crises from high unemployment and corruption to climate change. Known for her close ties with the Indian establishment, Hasina previously received security and shelter from then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, spending six years in exile in Delhi with her children. Bangladesh holds significant diplomatic importance for India, serving as a gateway into the eastern region.
The protests began a month ago over a controversial government job quota scheme. In response, the government shut down universities and used police and military forces to crack down on protesters. Hasina imposed a nationwide curfew and cut off access to phones and the internet. Despite these measures, the protests continued, and the country’s top court ruled that the contested quotas should be scaled back from 30 percent to 5 percent, with 3 percent reserved for relatives of veterans.
Hours after the embattled leader was seen on TV boarding a military helicopter with her sister, the country’s military chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, announced he would seek the president’s guidance on forming an interim government. He promised that the military would launch an investigation into the deadly crackdown on student-led protests that fueled outrage against the government.
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