Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flees Bangladesh amid violent protests
Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, has resigned and is en route to India with her sister, reports the BBC. A few minutes before her escape, protesters broke into her residence in Dhaka, which is currently being looted. The country awaits a speech from the army chief.
Sheikh Hasina, who has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, is aboard a helicopter flying to Agartala.
The Bangladesh army commander delivered an address to the nation after 11:10 GMT. He confirmed that Sheikh Hasina had fled. Waker-uz-Zaman stated that an interim government would be formed. He added that he plans to meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin and hopes that a "solution" will be found by the end of the day.
The army commander said he had already spoken with opposition political parties in the country. It is unclear who will lead the government.
Waker-uz-Zaman also promised "justice" for all citizens of Bangladesh – this is something that the protesters have been demanding after hundreds of people died over the last few weeks.
AFP reported that crowds waved flags in the country's capital, Dhaka, and some demonstrators danced on a parked tank.
Meanwhile, Channel 24 in Bangladesh showed footage of exuberant demonstrators breaking into Hasina's official residence in Dhaka. Some of them waved at the camera as they broke into the building.
A few minutes before Hasina's escape, protesters broke into her residence in Dhaka. According to the BBC, the headquarters are currently being looted. Furniture and chairs are being taken out of the building.
The recordings are said to show the Prime Minister of Bangladesh with her sister and top officials fleeing from protesters:
Massacre in the capital
The total number of fatalities during the anti-government protests, which have been ongoing in Bangladesh since July, has reached at least 300; 94 people died in Sunday's clashes with police and ruling party activists, reported AFP, based on police and medical sources.
