Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left the country amid fresh unrest which has killed at least 300 people. PM Hasina, accompanied by her sister, has left for West Bengal in a military chopper and protestors have stormed her residence, Ganabhaban, sources from Bangladesh told ABP LIVE.
However, no official confirmation has been obtained from the Government of India or the Ministry of External Affairs.
The development comes as a senior aide told news agency AFP on Monday that Hasina's resignation could be a "possibility" while her son Sajeeb Wazed urged the security forces to block "any unelected government" coming to power.
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the nation saying an interim government will be formed. He also promised that the military would stand down, and launch a probe into the deadly crackdowns that fueled outrage against the government, reported Associated Press. The Army Chief asked citizens for time to restore peace.
“Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible,” he said. “I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing.”
“Now, the students’ duty is to stay calm and help us,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Border Security Force in India has issued a high alert along the 4,096 kilometre-long India-Bangladesh border, a senior BSF officer told news agency ANI, adding that BSF Director General (acting) Daljit Singh Chawdhary along with senior officials have reached Kolkata.
The protests, against the quota reforms for the children of freedom fighters of the 1971 Independence war, began peacefully last month. But the demonstrations turned violent after the protestors clashed with police and the members of Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League at Dhaka University.
With her resignation, Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule came to an end. She was elected to power for the third time in January this year in the disputed general elections.
The government's attempt to thwart the protests with force, curfews and internet shutdowns backfired and sparked further outrage killing nearly 100 people on Sunday.