Bogura, Bangladesh: On Monday, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned as thousands of protesters, defying a military-imposed curfew, surged into her official residence. Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced in a televised address that Hasina, aged 76, had left the country and that an interim government would be established. This announcement followed a violent escalation on Sunday, which saw over 90 people killed in the deadliest day of the ongoing anti-government protests that began in July.
In his broadcast to the nation, Waker-Uz-Zaman, dressed in military fatigues, declared that he would oversee the formation of an interim government. Although it was unclear if he would lead this temporary administration, he took full responsibility for the current crisis. He emphasized the need to address the violence and economic impact, stating, "The country has suffered greatly, many lives have been lost, and it is time to end the violence."
Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed hope that his address would lead to an improvement in the situation. He mentioned plans to discuss the formation of the interim government with the president and noted that he had engaged with major opposition parties and civil society members, excluding Hasina's Awami League.
The army chief, a career infantry officer with nearly four decades of service, including two tours as a UN peacekeeper and experience in the prime minister's office, vowed to prosecute those responsible for recent violence. He urged students to remain calm and support the new authorities. Waker-Uz-Zaman, who was recently appointed as chief of army staff, appeared in his decorated uniform and spectacles, signaling a commitment to restoring order and addressing the crisis.