Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The residents of Dhaka are now experiencing mixed feelings of relief and uncertainty after ousting of Sheikh Hasina.
The respite came as the autocrat leader has stepped down and uncertainty came as the proposed interim government is yet to be formed.
The situation brewed after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina from the position of prime minister of Bangladesh. Hasina stepped down and fled the country yesterday following the countrywide demonstration carried out by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. She is now in India, as Indian sources confirmed.
Media reports claim that traffic is thin in the Dhaka streets since morning as people are scared to step on to the roads with their cars. Some rickshaws, however, are seen ruling over the streets.
Meanwhile, the officers and employees of Bangladesh government evacuated the secretariat en masse shortly before 12noon. Many top police officials went into hiding after the development. Most police stations and law enforcement offices in Dhaka and several other districts remained vacant today following yesterday’s vandalism and arson attacks.
Students are seen to control traffic on different Dhaka streets in the afternoon. Later, the members of Ansar were given the responsibility to control the traffic movements.
Mass people on Monday broke into Gonobhaban, the official residence of Bangladesh PM, and vandalised and looted valuables from the palace.
On the other hand, the protesters including students intervened into the untoward incident and announced that the government valuables, properties and establishments are bought from the money that the common people paid to the government as tax and VAT.
They also prevented mobs from taking away the government valuables. Reports said that student leaders were also seen reinstating and returning valuables to different government offices and establishments.
The historic house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and its adjacent buildings at Dhanmondi-32 in the capital were torched yesterday afternoon amid the riot and mob violence and miscreants also looted the museum. Four unidentified and charred bodies were found at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum this morning. Many people gathered there to see the ruins of the museum while some opportunists were taking remaining valuables from it.
In the set back of this political development, the Army Chief of Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman yesterday addressed the nation and declared the formation of an interim government soon.
Hours before addressing the nation, he sat with the leaders of different political parties including BNP, Jamaat, JP and representatives of civil society. However, even a single leader of just-ousted Awami League did not turn up at the meeting.
In another development, the coordinators under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement this morning nominated Dr Md. Yunus as the chief of the interim government and the Nobel Laureate has also accepted the role, media reports added.
A full fledged interim government is scheduled to be announced today following the development in the political arena of Bangladesh. Today, the Army Chief also spoke with the students’ coordinators who spearheaded the movement against the Awami League government.
After the ousting of Hasina, the eldest daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, demonstrators brought down and destroyed pictures of Hasina and her father from different offices and institutions.
Widespread violence including vandalism, torching and killing rocked different parts including the capital of Bangladesh after the political turmoil. Residences and offices of just-ousted ministers, lawmakers and AL leaders, government establishments, police stations and business institutions were attacked and vandalised in at least 17 districts, according to media reports.
At least 18 people died after mobs set fire to five-star Zabeer International Hotel, owned by lawmaker and Jashore district AL general secretary Shahin Chakladar, Monday night.
Allegations also came that some political leaders and their kinsmen were killed during mob attacks in different parts of the country.
A group of angry mob torched the house of AL Leader and Member of Parliament from Jhalakathi-2 constituency Amir Hossain Amu in Barishal.
A joint team of the army and police has recovered Tk 5.0 crore in local and foreign currencies from the house of AL Leader.
In Satkhira, at least 15 people, including a local AL leader, his brother and nephews were killed in a deadly attack and clashes.
Police say more than 450 police stations were attacked on Monday following the resignation of Hasina. A number of police officers were also killed during the protests.
Hundreds of people including students of different colleges and universities were killed during the protest that eventually led the resignation of Hasina.
In another development, a day after Hasina's ouster, her arch-rival Khaleda Zia was released from her Gulshan house, a press statement of Bangabhaban reads on Tuesday.
Moreover, the process to release those arrested between July 01 to August 05 has also been started and many have already been released, the press statement added.
A press statement of the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) this evening sought the cooperation of all in maintaining the law and order situation of the country in the wake of the mayhem adding that along with police, Rab, BGB and Ansar the armed forces’ personnel are working to stabilize the country.
BBN/SSR/AN