After a day full of action in Bangladesh, Tuesday brought a day of words. President Mohammed Shahabuddin, through a notification dissolved the country's parliament following a forceful student protest movement that led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure. The president also announced that former prime minister and opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia had been granted a full presidential pardon and released from prison. The announcements came as student protest leaders met with Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, who stated that the military would establish an interim government after Hasina's exit. On Monday, Hasina resigned and fled the country amid violent protests that began over job quota reforms and escalated into demands for her removal. The protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 300 people, saw celebrations erupt across Bangladesh, with Hasina’s residence being looted and several ruling party offices set ablaze. If reports are to be believed, President Shahabuddin met with key coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement at Bangabhaban on Tuesday to discuss the interim government and the current situation. According to Bengali daily Prothom Alo, a group of 13 student movement leaders, along with the three armed forces chiefs, participated in the evening meeting. By Tuesday, reports suggested that calm was returning to Dhaka, with many protesters aiding in clean-up efforts or gathering peacefully, however the traffic was lighter than usual and many schools and businesses that shut during the unrest still closed. Zaman had planned to meet protest organisers and had already held discussions with major political parties, excluding Hasina’s Awami League, about forming an interim government and planning future elections. Meanwhile, former minister of telecommunication and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and former foreign minister of the Awami League government Hasan Mahmud were detained by airport authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today, as respectively reported by Prothom Alo and Daily English. Shahabuddin, in a televised address, confirmed that the interim government would hold elections as soon as feasible after consulting all stakeholders. He stated that the decision to release Zia, who had been imprisoned on graft charges since 2018, was made unanimously. Zia, who had denied the charges, had been in poor health and was moved to a hospital a year ago. Is it a Army rule? Earlier in the day, student protest coordinator Nahid Islam issued a fresh ultimatum to the president, demanding the dissolution of parliament by 3 pm, with threats of further protests if their demands were not met. The protesters urged for continued calm and peaceful action. “We have proposed the name of Muhammad Yunus with his consent. Now if someone else comes from among the MPs, we will not allow that to happen,” protest leader Sarjis Alam said. Student leaders have proposed economist and Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser for the interim government. Yunus — who is currently in Paris for the Olympics — called Hasina’s resignation the country’s “second liberation day”. If reports are to be believed, he has agreed to the role and plans to return to Bangladesh soon. However, Yunus expressed frustration over Bangladeshis' anger towards India for allowing Hasina to land there after fleeing Dhaka. “India is our best friend. people are angry at India because you are supporting the person who destroyed our lives,” Yunus said according to a report by Reuters. Student leaders reported attacks on minority groups, including Hindu temples, in the predominantly Muslim country and urged for restraint. According to a community association, hundreds of Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been vandalised since Hasina's removal. Meanwhile, Dhaka's main airport has resumed operations following an eight-hour suspension. The Bangladesh Police Association as per a report by Associated Press, announced it would launch a nationwide strike due to a lack of security after multiple police stations were attacked on Monday and “many” officers were killed, though the exact number of deaths was not specified. The association stated that officers would not return to work until their safety is guaranteed. Additionally, the association issued an apology for the violent police response to student protesters, saying that officers had been “forced to open fire” and had been portrayed as the “villain.” Where is Hasina ? Sheikh Hasina’s plan to travel to London has been met with difficulties due to the UK's hesitation to offer her refuge. As a result, she is expected to remain in India for the next few days, according to Reports. Hasina, who arrived at Hindon airbase on Monday in a C-130J military transport plane after resigning, has been relocated to an undisclosed secure location in Delhi. Initially, she intended to move to London, where her sister Sheikh Rehana's daughter, Tulip Siddiq, is a British MP and economic secretary to the Treasury. However, the UK government has indicated that she may not receive legal protection against potential investigations related to the recent violent protests in Bangladesh. Currently, Hasina is considering alternative destinations, including the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Finland. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in Parliament that Hasina requested urgent approval to come to India “for the moment” after her resignation. “We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” Jaishankar said. “Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” he added. "We expect the host government to provide the required security protection for our diplomatic establishments. We will remain deeply concerned until law and order is visibly restored." British Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted on Monday that Bangladesh has experienced “unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life” and called for a “full and independent UN-led investigation into the events.” Under UK immigration rules, asylum applications cannot be made from outside the country, and each claim is considered on its merits. An expert explained, “There is no provision within the UK’s immigration rules for someone to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge.” Those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. Sources indicate that Hasina has informed New Delhi of her potential future plans and is considering Finland due to family connections there. The situation remains fluid, with no clear resolution yet. International reactions have been mixed. The White House praised the Bangladesh Army for its restraint and called for a democratic and inclusive formation of the interim government. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer applauded the protesters and called for justice for those killed. The US also issued a new travel advisory for Bangladesh on Tuesday, advising its citizens against travelling to the country “due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism.” Hasina's government faced accusations of manipulating state institutions to maintain power and suppress dissent, with rights groups alleging the killing of opposition activists. The student-led protests, which began over a controversial quota system, led to the worst violence since Bangladesh's founding. The interim government formed by the army will be scrutinised as it aims to address the unrest and hold democratic elections.
