Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and flown to Agartala, the capital of Tripura, following days of intense protests in Dhaka demanding her resignation.
Hasina, accompanied by her sister, departed Dhaka earlier in the day, first heading to a Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola before leaving for Agartala.
The resignation came amidst escalating unrest, with protesters storming her official residence, Gono Bhaban, shortly after her departure.
The protests, which reignited on Friday, were a continuation of demonstrations against the reservation system for families of veterans from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The violence peaked on Sunday, resulting in over 90 deaths.
In response to the turmoil, the Border Security Force (BSF) in India issued a "high alert" across all its formations along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border.
BSF acting director general Daljit Singh Chawdhary and senior commanders arrived in Kolkata to review the security situation.
A senior officer confirmed that all field commanders have been directed to be "on ground" and to "deploy all personnel on border duty immediately."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the media, confirming Hasina's resignation and announcing the formation of an interim government to manage the country's affairs.
He urged protesters to maintain peace and assured them that their demands would be addressed.
Sources indicate that the army chief had been engaged in open discussions with various political parties, including radical groups, before making the announcement.
Student protesters, who have been leading the movement, called for justice for those killed during the July protests and renewed their demand for Hasina's resignation.
The government initially responded to the escalating situation by imposing a curfew and declaring a three-day government holiday in an attempt to quell the unrest.
Despite these measures, the protests intensified, leading to Hasina's dramatic exit and the subsequent announcement by the army chief.
This development marks a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape as the country navigates through one of its most turbulent periods in recent history.
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