Bangladesh army chief announces interim government

Bangladesh’s army chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman says an interim government will be formed and new elections called following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Student leaders have said that they will not accept a military-led government. Ishan Garg has more.

Bangladesh’s ‘Gen Z revolution has managed to topple a veteran leader. CNN reports that the protest movement pitted mostly young student demonstrators against a 76-year-old leader who had dominated her nation for decades and turned increasingly authoritarian in recent years.

Separately, the AFP news agency reports that nearly 18 million of them are unemployed in a country with a population of 170 million.

For now, student leaders, politicians, members of civil society, the president, and the army chief have collectively decided to dissolve Parliament. This decision comes amidst a backdrop of political upheaval and social unrest.

The Bangladesh National Party has announced the release of Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister and party leader, from years of house arrest.

Amid these political shifts, the Bangladesh Police Association has declared a strike, leading students to form vigilante groups to manage the capital’s congested streets in the absence of police presence. In response to the situation, a spokesperson for the International Monetary Fund emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh and its efforts to maintain economic stability and achieve inclusive growth.