Kathmandu, August 5
The Army Chief of Bangladesh, General Wakar-uz-Zaman, has announced the formation of an interim government.
On Monday, thousands of people gathered in Dhaka in response to a call from students protesting against the reservation (quota system) in government jobs. After they advanced towards her official residence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country.
Shortly after Hasina left the country, Army Chief Wakar-uz-Zaman held a press conference and announced the formation of an interim government.
He stated that dialogues were held with the President, opposition parties, and civil society to form the interim government. However, he did not mention Hasina’s party, the Awami League.
Expressing hope for a resolution by the evening, he said, “If the situation improves, a curfew will not be necessary.”
He took full responsibility and urged the protesters to return home. The army chief said that he had already instructed security personnel not to fire, adding, “The country has suffered a lot. The economy has been affected, and many people have been injured. I hope the situation will improve after this address.”
