The Bangladesh Army has undergone a major reshuffle, including changes in senior positions. Major General Ziaul Ahsan has been replaced by Major General Ridwanur Rahman as the Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister left their official residence in Dhaka and moved to a safer location amid unrest. Reports indicate Hasina resigned and flew to Agartala, India, and is seeking asylum in the UK.
Protests and demonstrations erupted across Bangladesh following the announcement of a multi-day “non-cooperation action” by the Student Movement Against Discrimination on August 4.
The protests, initially about the quota system for civil service employment, escalated into riots with clashes between anti-government students, police, and government supporters.
The Bangladesh government has imposed a curfew in Dhaka and other cities from 6 p.m. local time until further notice. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have been declared holidays nationwide.
The U.S. government has canceled the visa of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina is now prohibited from entering the United States.
Protesters have damaged or destroyed the houses of at least two MPs and over 100 members of the Awami League party, which was led by the resigned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In Lalmonirhat district, some houses were set on fire, and six charred bodies were found in one of the buildings, though their identities are yet to be determined.
Demonstrators and citizens in Bangladesh have destroyed the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in central Dhaka. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Sheikh Hasina, is considered the Father of the Nation and was a former President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
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Student protests over the quota system, which limits civil service employment opportunities, have been a recurring issue in Bangladesh.
These protests resumed with increased intensity in 2024 after the quota system was reinstated following a temporary suspension.
