Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after weeks of protests against her government in which hundreds of people were killed.
Hasina, 76, quit on Monday after last month’s student-led protests against a quota system for government jobs turned into a popular call for her removal in the worst political crisis to hit during her 15-year rule.
As tens of thousands of people surrounded government offices and residences in the capital, Dhaka, Hasina fled in an army helicopter with her sister to India.
In an address to the nation, Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government would run the country of 170 million people, without providing details.
Here are some reactions to Hasina’s removal from power and the unrest in the country:
Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the main opposition party who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, said on X that “Hasina’s resignation proves the power of the people”.
“Together, let’s rebuild Bangladesh into a democratic and developed nation, where the rights and freedoms of all people are protected,” he urged.
United Kingdom
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said his office was concerned by the violence and the “significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers”, saying it was “completely unacceptable”.
“The right to peaceful protest must be protected and never subject to violence and we call on the authorities to release all peaceful protesters and ensure due process is followed for those charged and prosecuted,” according to a statement.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks.”
Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK
In Whitechapel, a London neighbourhood home to a large Bangladeshi community, many took to the streets to celebrate.
Waving their national flag and honking car horns, they chanted: “Bangladesh! Bangladesh!”
“Bangladesh has achieved its second independence now,” said Abu Sayem, 50. “We actually got our independence first in 1971, but autocrat Sheikh Hasina was ruling the country forcibly. She has snatched away our rights. She has killed thousands of children.”
Taxi driver Ishtiaque Choudhury said: “It is a relief for us and I’m happy for my nation.”
Germany
A Federal Foreign Office spokesperson said it is “important that Bangladesh continue on its democratic path” amid the unrest in the country.
European Union
The bloc called for an “orderly and peaceful” transition to democratic rule in Bangladesh.
“The EU calls for calm and restraint. It is vital that an orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government is ensured, in full respect of human rights and democratic principles,” foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
United States
The US commended Bangladesh’s army for its “restraint”, while also calling on all sides to “refrain from further violence”.
“Too many lives have been lost over the course of the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead,” Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Miller also said the US had seen reports that the army refused pressure to crack down further on student-led demonstrations.
“If it is true in fact that the army resisted calls to crack down on lawful protesters, that would be a positive development,” he said.
Asked if the military should choose the next leadership, Miller said, “We want to see the Bangladeshi people decide the future Bangladeshi government.”
The White House called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh. “We urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive. We commend the Army for the restraint they have showed today,” a White House spokesperson added.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X that Hasina’s violent reaction to legitimate protests made her continued rule untenable.
“I applaud the brave protestors & demand justice for those killed. It’s critical to establish a balanced interim government that respects the rights of all & sets up democratic elections swiftly,” Schumer said.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged calm and highlighted the need for a “peaceful, orderly and democratic transition”, his spokesman said.
“[Guterres] stands in full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and calls for the full respect of their human rights,” said Farhan Haq, the spokesman.
“He continues to underscore the need for a full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all acts of violence.”
Irene Khan, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, said the army has a “very tough job ahead”.
“We are all hoping that the transition would be peaceful and that there will be accountability for all the human rights violations that have taken place recently, including the killing of about 300 people in the last three weeks,” Khan told Al Jazeera.
“Bangladesh has, of course, an enormous task ahead. It is not the poster child of sustainable development any more. The previous government had driven this country into despair, and there would be a lot of hard work to do to build it up, but most of all, I think it’s extremely important that the army respect human rights.”
Canada
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said her country “condemns the human rights violations, deaths, torture, arbitrary arrests and lethal force” used in response to the protests.
“During this transition, we urge all parties to respect and uphold democratic institutions and processes and the rule of law,” Joly said in a statement.
Amnesty International
The group’s South Asia researcher Taqbir Huda told Democracy Now that while Hasina has resigned, much of the violence “could have been avoided” if her government had been more responsive to the students’ demands.
He noted that the military has taken over and cautioned: “Given Bangladesh’s history with military dictatorships … it is really important to stress that this must be a time-bound measure until … governance can be reissued.”
India
While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not yet commented on Hasina’s resignation, it issued a “high alert” along its 4,096km (2,545-mile) border with Bangladesh.
Modi’s government was reported to have close ties with the Hasina-led Awami League government.
Sri Lanka
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said in a statement on X: “We believe in the resilience and unity of the Bangladeshi nation and hope for a swift return to peace and stability.”
“May the people of Bangladesh find the strength to overcome these challenges and emerge even stronger,” he added.
Russia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that “Moscow … hopes for a speedy return of internal political processes to constitutional norms in a country friendly to us”.
