New Delhi: On Monday, President Mohammed Shahabuddin presided over a meeting at the Bangabhaban in Dhaka to discuss the formation of an interim government with the chiefs of the three armed forces, leaders of various political parties, and representatives of civil society amid the political unrest in the strife-torn country that led to Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister and her subsequent flight from Bangladesh.
It was voted unanimously at the conference to promptly release Begum Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of the BNP.
According to a statement sent by the president’s press office, the conference chaired by Shahabuddin “decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately.”
A resolution of condolence was also passed at the gathering in honour of the people who lost their lives fighting against the quota, and prayers were offered for the deceased souls’ peace and forgiveness.
The meeting resolved to establish a provisional administration, advising all parties to be patient and tolerant in managing the nation’s law and order issues. It also decided to act strictly to end violence and looting.
In addition, it was agreed to free everyone who had been imprisoned during the anti-discrimination campaign. It was also decided at the meeting that no community should suffer harm.
Prior to Hasina’s departure for India, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim administration would be forming shortly to manage the nation.
More than 1,000 people were injured, and over 100 people were confirmed dead in Sunday’s skirmishes between police and demonstrators.
“With yesterday’s count, the death toll in anti-government protests crossed 300 in just three weeks, making it the bloodiest period in the history of Bangladesh’s civil movement,” the country’s leading daily ‘The Daily Star’ reported.
Over several weeks, Prime Minister Hasina’s administration came under intense pressure from the student-led non-cooperation campaign.
The students were demonstrating against a thirty percent reservation in government jobs for the kin of freedom fighters who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in a brutal civil war in 1971. Three million people were allegedly killed in this genocide, which was carried out by Pakistani troops and their allies, according to officials in Dhaka.
Student leaders temporarily suspended the protests after the Supreme Court reduced the reservation percentage to 5%. However, the students then declared that the government had disregarded their demand that all of their leaders be released and that PM Hasina’s resignation was their main demand.
–IANS
