With Sheikh Hasina resigning as Prime Minister and fleeing the country amid unrest, the question arises of what’s next for Bangladesh. Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman in a televised address said that he will hold talks with President Mohammed Shahabuddin and an interim government will be formed.
Several people have been celebrating the forced resignation of Hasina. "I'm here to enjoy my freedom. My country is free again," a 17-year-old student told BBC.
“Me and my brother and sisters have fought for it - and it's finally freedom...We can do what we love (doing),” she added.
“She had caused a lot of trouble for the students...we are so glad that all of it is finally over,” said another student rejoicing her exit.
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Seeking assistance, Hasina has reached India, where she is likely to meet her daughter—who is based in Delhi and working as the WHO’s regional director for South-East Asia.
It is unlikely that Hasina will leave India on Monday night and she has been shifted to a safe location. India, a close ally of Bangladesh under her reign, is closely monitoring the situation as well. However, no official response has come from Delhi so far. It is also said that Hasina is likely to leave for London from India.
Meanwhile, in an interview with BBC, Hasina’s son and former official adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy said that she will not make a political comeback. “She left the country for her own safety on her family’s insistence,” he said.
"She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia. She’s very disappointed," he said.
What’s next for Bangladesh?
Experts have also raised the imminent economic implosion with the regime change. “Hasina’s government appears to have lost both the right and might to govern. Soon it will run out of the resources to do so as well...Without employment, hope or representation, those spearheading the protests will soon turn into a liability,” Lutfey Siddiqi, a visiting professor-in-practice at the London School of Economics was quoted by BBC.
Over the years India has been Hasina's biggest ally and it has worked well for both countries.
"It is an end of a regime that delivered a lot of development but was increasingly authoritarian, as we saw with the mass killings these past weeks. The country has seen interim governments in the past. For now, the hope is that the army will ensure peace," Naomi Hossain, a research professor who specialises in Bangladesh at London-based SOAS University, told AP.
“It could get ugly if the army isn’t able to calm people down and defuse the issue. It could be a while before we are out of the woods,” Hossain added.
It also remains to be seen whether the Army will be able to restore peace in the country. Experts opinioned that if normalcy is not brought back to the country then it would turn into a uglier fight.
Ensure democracy prevails: UK
Reacting to the developments in Bangladesh, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister said that swift action is needed to "ensure democracy prevails”.
While talking to the reporters in London, he added that he is deeply saddened by the violence we've seen in Bangladesh in recent weeks. "I hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security to people in Bangladesh," he said.
The European Union has called for an "orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government" in Bangladesh. EU urged the people to respect human rights.
In a statement, Josep Borrell, EU’s foreign policy chief said, "The European Union is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Bangladesh.
"Following the address to the nation by Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the EU calls for calm and restraint,” he added.
"The EU is saddened by the tragic loss of life during the protests in recent days. We take note of the assurances given by General Waker-Uz-Zaman that the situation will be handled in a peaceful manner, and that all unlawful killings will be impartially investigated. Accountability for human rights violations is crucial. Those who have been arbitrarily detained should be released immediately," he said.