Saima Wazed, the daughter of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday said she was "heartbroken" with the developments in the country. She also rued the fact that she wasn't being able to hug her mother who is currently in India, negotiating with various nations for a safe asylum.
"Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country 🇧🇩 that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time. I remain committed to my role as RD," Saima Wazed, who is the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization, said in an X post.
Saima Wazed currently lives in Delhi, while Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana are holed up at a safe house in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad.
Saima Wazed and Sheikh Hasina had visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his oath-taking ceremony in June.
Bangladesh Crisis: Latest Updates
Bangladesh could see a hint of returning to normalcy as Muhammad Yunus is sworn in as the head of the interim government on Thursday evening. Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Yunus said he would first focus on bringing back law & order in Bangladesh. He also said that Bangladesh will now have to focus on development and that freedom to every citizen must be ensured.
Meanwhile, chaos still ruled Bangladesh as multiple burglaries and robberies were reported in capital Dhaka. Several areas such as Mirpur, Basila, Pallabi, Uttara, and Mohammadpur reported incidents of robberies. Dhaka Tribune, citing local sources, reported that around 200-300 robbers entered the Mirpur area on Wednesday night. They were allegedly paid by an Awami League leader.
The Gazipur Prison saw a major clash between inmates and jail officials over the release of some politically aligned prisoners. At least 16 inmates and guards sustained injuries in the skirmish. The incident comes after a mass breakout of prisoners at the Kashimpur Jail.
Compounding the situation across Bangladesh, protests continued at various banks on Thursday. The bank officials staged protests, demanding the revocation of "illegal appointments" and sought punishment for bank owners "involved in corruption". They also demanded the reappointment of several employees who had been sacked earlier.