Internet back, 6 more deaths: Things that happened before Sheikh Hasina resigned and Army took over

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, ending 15 years in power as thousands of protesters defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.

Shortly after a report surfaced that the embattled leader boarding a military helicopter with her sister, Bangladesh’s military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to seek the president’s guidance on forming an interim government following an over a month-long protest by university students and Bangladeshi youths.

Internet connection blocked and restored

The government had ordered the broadband shutdown around 10:30 am local time. Hours later, broadband and 4G internet services were restored. Broadband connectivity was restored around 1:30 pm local time.

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Despite this, access to social media platforms remained blocked.

An official from the International Internet Gateway (IIF), which provides bandwidth to broadband service providers, confirmed the restoration of services.

A march to Dhaka

A massive protest march began from Jahangirnagar University (JU) towards Dhaka, driven by a singular demand for the government’s resignation. The march set off from the Shaheed Minar at noon on Monday.
Approximately 5,000 participants from the nearby Savar and Ashulia regions, along with numerous university students and teachers, joined the procession. Despite facing numerous barriers from law enforcement, the march attracted thousands from various neighbourhoods in Savar.

6 deaths in protests

On Monday, clashes between police and demonstrators in Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas resulted in at least six fatalities. Four individuals succumbed to their injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) after being wounded in Jatrabari’s Kazla area. Additionally, two more fatalities were reported within the DMCH premises.

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Army holds the key meeting

A meeting was held at the army headquarters with leaders of various political parties and prominent individuals on Monday. Professor Asif Nazrul from the Law Department of Dhaka University was invited to this meeting with the Army chief General Wakar-Uz-Zaman. Senior Co-Chairman of the Jatiya Party, Anisul Islam Mahmud, and the party’s Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, also attended the meeting.
The final piece of the puzzle

As the Army sat with the political leaders and intellectuals in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina fled to India. She landed in Agartala in India’s Northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh. It was not clear if her India landing is a transitory visit or she would stay for a longer time as she sought safety in exile.

The Army chief addressed the nation and said, “After productive discussions with all political parties, we have agreed to form an interim government. We will now consult President Mohammed Shahabuddin to address the current situation.”

The Army chief urged an end to all violence associated with the protests and assured that the new government would seek justice for those who lost their lives during the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement. Professor Asif Nazrul from Dhaka University’s Law Department was tasked with urging student-protesters to call off their agitation.