Following a brutal day of unrest that resulted in nearly 100 deaths, Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has made a national appeal for an end to violence. His call for calm comes in the wake of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic resignation and subsequent departure from the capital, Dhaka.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who took over as army chief earlier this year, addressed the nation via state television on Monday, promising to form an interim government and meet the protesters’ demands. “The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence,” he stated, urging the public to cooperate and help stabilize the situation.
The unrest began over the reintroduction of a controversial quota scheme that reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups. Although the scheme had been scaled back by the top court, protests continued to escalate, drawing widespread participation from various sectors of Bangladeshi society, including film stars and musicians.
In a symbolic move of defiance, protesters stormed Prime Minister Hasina’s palace, leading to her fleeing the country by helicopter. Reports indicate that Hasina is now in an undisclosed location in India. The protests also saw the destruction of statues of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a national hero of Bangladesh.
General Waker, who has served nearly four decades in the military, reassured the public that the new authorities would prosecute those responsible for the violence. “If the situation gets better, there is no need for emergency,” he added, emphasizing the importance of restoring order.
Sources By Agencies
