ReturnDHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — What began as peaceful protests by students in Bangladesh against a quota system for government jobs eventually turned into an uprising that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country by helicopter.
Now, opposition leaders and the country’s military are talking about appointing an interim government that is expected to organize new elections in what critics of Hasina say is a restoration of democracy.
The end to Hasina’s 15 years in power came after weeks of violent unrest during which nearly 300 people died, according to local media reports.
The government repeatedly tried to quell demonstrations they blamed on sabotage and opposition parties with bullets, curfews and internet outages, but these heavy-handed moves backfired, fueling outrage and further protests.
On Monday, protesters defied a military curfew to march into the capital’s center, following a weekend of violence left dozens of people dead. As troops pulled back and internet access was restored, tens of thousands of people began to celebrate in the streets, and thousands stormed the leader’s official residence.
Here’s what we know:
Who will lead the next government?
Shortly after Hasina resigned, the country’s military chief said the army would seek the figurehead president’s guidance to appoint an interim government.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced late Monday after meeting with Gen. Waker-uz-Zamam and opposition politicians that Parliament would be dissolved as soon as possible, leading to fresh elections.
The next day, a key student leader said that the movement wanted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to head the interim government.
Nahid Islam said in a video posted on social media that student protest leaders had already talked with Yunus, who consented to take over considering the present situation of the country.
