Bangladesh Unrest: Rampaging Mobs Loot, Vandalise Sheikh Hasina’s ‘Ganabhaban’ Palace, Occupy Parliament; SHOCKING Visuals
Bangladesh Unrest: Thousands of protesters stormed the official residence of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after she resigned and fled the country on Monday following mass protests against her government.
Visuals going viral on social media showed rampaging mobs storming the PM’s House, vandalising and looting the place, to vent their anger against the four-time prime minister and her Awami League government.
Video footage showed protesters vandalising and looting Hasina’s official residence ‘Ganabhaban’ in Dhaka as they were seen celebrating on the Ganabhaban premises waving their hands in the air. Many of them were seen leaving with many belongings of the Ganabhaban.
#Bangladesh: Full video of protestors storming PM’s palace in Dhaka. Protestors can be seen inside the office of Sheikh Hasina.pic.twitter.com/I0F0vPJYpY
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 5, 2024
A mob of protesters also occupied the Parliament building in capital Dhaka. Videos doing the rounds on social media showed some protesters standing on the benches in the House while others are seen casually sitting and smoking cigarettes with their feet up.
#Bangladesh unrest: Violent protesters occupy Parliament, smoke inside after Sheikh Hasina flees Dhaka. Thousands of violent protesters stormed the Bangladesh Parliament building, following a rampage at PM Hasina’s official residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka. pic.twitter.com/quetPz9M8g
— MD Rais Ansari (@Rais76Ansari) August 5, 2024
The protesters also smashed a statue of Sheikh Hasina’s father and former PM Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with hammers, and also set her Awami League party’s offices afire in the country’s capital as they celebrated her ouster from the top post and the country.
Videos on social media showed protesters climbing a statue of Rahman, a 1971 Liberation War hero, in Dhaka and smashing it with hammers.
This is some moment. The statue of Sheikh Mujib, the father of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the country’s independence leader, is being destroyed. Unfortunately, his reputation (most support him, others not) has been significantly tarnished by association with her… pic.twitter.com/k2SzckJvW3
— David Bergman (@TheDavidBergman) August 5, 2024
Her Awami League’s office in Dhanmondi and Dhaka was set on fire by the agitators who chanted anti-government slogans.
They also attacked and vandalised the residence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the capital. Smoke was also seen coming out of the house.
Sheikh Hasina quits, flees country
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position and fled the country on Monday, amid massive protests against her government that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days.
In a televised address, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that Hasina has resigned and left the country, and an interim government under his watch is taking over.
“I’m taking all responsibility (of the country). Please cooperate,” the Army Chief said in his address amid reports that Hasina has landed in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, India, and is likely to seek asylum in London.
Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has addressed the nation, confirming that PM Sheikh Hasina has resigned and that an interim government will run the country. pic.twitter.com/XQ0b0HMY4k
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 5, 2024
The Army chief said he had met political leaders and told them the Army would take over responsibility for law and order. However, there were no leaders from Hasina’s Awami League party at the meeting.
Protests end Hasina’s 15-year rule
Hasina, the 76-year-old daughter of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had been ruling the strategically located 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.
Jubilant crowds took to the streets across the country to celebrate their victory after Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced her resignation, ending her 15 years in power. Officials said a mob of thousands defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.
(With inputs from agencies)