Sheikh Hasina Resigns As Bangladesh PM, Country Under Army Control

A coup has started in the Bangladesh and the country is under the military rule. Sheikh Hasina is meanwhile headed to New Delhi through Agartala.

Sheikh Hasina has resigned as the Bangladesh Prime Minister and left the country earlier today, on Monday, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday.

The former Bangladesh PM arrived in India earlier today following her resignation and is expected to leave for London, sources said.  

The resignation comes amid protests as more than 300 people have died in the anti-government protest and protestors storming the presidential palace. The country has also announced internet shutdown in the wake of the deadly protests. 

Sources said that Hasina wanted to address the nation before resigning, however, the military didn't allow the Bangladesh PM to do that. 

AFP quoting local reports said that the Bangladesh army will 'form an interim government'. However, Sheikh Hasina's son has urged security forces to block 'any unelected government' coming to power.

BBC reported that Hasina left on a helicopter for Agartala in Tripura. However, the Ministry of External Affairs or local officials in Agartala refused to confirm the report. Tripura Home Secretary PK Chakravarty told PTI that the department has no such information. 

Sheikh Hasina was initially beleived to have left for New Delhi after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused her entry into the state. However, India is learnt to have denied asylum to Sheikh Hasina after she landed in Agartala. 

Sources told ABP Live that India told her after negotiations that it will extend all help but wont be able to offer asylum. It is learnt that she is now headed to either Finland or Switzerland.  

Meanwhile, ANI quoting sources said that Indian security agencies are monitoring a C-130 aircraft with call sign AJAX1431 since 10 kms from Indian border with Bangladesh and it is heading towards Delhi. It is believed that Sheikh Hasina and some members of her entourage are on this plane.

Hasina, the 76-year-old daughter of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had been ruling the South Asian nation since 2009.

She was elected for a record fourth consecutive term and fifth overall term in the 12th general election held in January, amid a boycott by the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia and its allies.

Security Beefed Up At Bangladesh High Commission 

The Delhi Police on Monday beefed up the security at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. Police have also tightened security outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in case Hasina lands in the national capital, an officer said.

More barricades have been placed outside the commission and the number of police personnel deployed there has been increased, a Delhi Police officer said.