Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Resigns Amidst Fierce Protests

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned following intense anti-government protests. She landed at Hindon airbase near Delhi, where she was received by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Hasina's planned departure to London is uncertain. An interim government is now in place, and over 100 have died in the protests.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned on Monday amidst intense anti-government protests, arrived at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, multiple diplomatic sources reported.

Shortly after landing at the airbase near Delhi in a C-130J military transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force, she was met by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, according to the sources. The specifics of their meeting remain undisclosed.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar updated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the rapidly changing situation in Bangladesh. Jaishankar also informed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, about the developments.

It is believed Hasina has been moved to a secure location, making it improbable for her to leave India on Monday night. While she planned to travel to London, unforeseen issues have added uncertainty to her plans.

Sources mentioned that Hasina may meet her daughter, Saima Wazed, based in Delhi and serving as WHO's regional director for South-East Asia. There's no official statement on Hasina's arrival in Delhi or her meeting with the NSA.

Indian authorities provided a safe passage through Indian airspace for Hasina's aircraft, following a request from Dhaka. New Delhi is closely monitoring the swift developments in Dhaka.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced Hasina's resignation and the assumption of control by an interim government. “I'm taking all responsibility of the country. Please cooperate,” he stated in a televised address, confirming the Army’s role in maintaining law and order.

Over 100 people have died in the anti-government protests, which began as students' demonstrations last month against a controversial job quota scheme that reserved 30% of civil service jobs for families of 1971 liberation war veterans.