UNDP and Ministry of Environment collaborate on key climate change reports for UNFCCC – The Island

Protesters storm parliament

Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina yesterday fled to India in a military helicopter amid widespread protests that have led to nearly 300 deaths in the past month, with news agencies reporting that she was being stripped of her “safe haven.”

At least 95 people, including 14 policemen, were killed in clashes in the capital on Sunday, and hundreds of others were injured.

At least six people were reportedly killed in clashes between police and protesters in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas on Monday.

Yesterday, thousands of protesters stormed the Bangladeshi parliament and committed acts of vandalism, international media reported.

The demonstrations began with students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, but clashes with police and pro-government activists erupted in violence that claimed more than 200 lives last month.

This sparked further protests demanding accountability of the government, which escalated into calls for the resignation of Hasina, who has ruled the country since 2009.

Hasina fled the country yesterday after anti-government protesters announced they would march on the capital to demand her resignation.

Broadband internet access and mobile data services have been restored throughout Bangladesh.

Hasina said last week that anarchists were trying to create chaos in the country similar to what happened in Sri Lanka during the recent quota reform movement and were planning to overthrow the government.

“Actually, they (anarchists) were planning to create Sri Lankan-style violence and overthrow the government,” she said when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma visited her at her official residence.

Prime Minister’s spokesman Md Nayeemul Islam Khan informed reporters after a telephone conversation.

Sheikh Hasina said the recent move to reform quota was not a normal move at all but at one point it almost turned into a terrorist attack.

“This (the latest chaos) was not (a normal) movement at all. At one point it almost turned into a terrorist attack,” she said.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment Salman Fazlur Rahman, Special Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin and Chief Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.

The Prime Minister expressed sadness and regret over the loss of life and property in the recent chaos.

Talking about relations with neighbouring countries, she said Bangladesh’s doors are open to strengthening ties between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.

The Indian High Commissioner also expressed condolences for the human and material losses.

He welcomed the gradual return to normalcy and resumption of economic activities in Bangladesh.

Pranay Verma said that India, as its closest neighbour, always supports the Bangladesh government and its people as they want their country to become progressive and prosperous.

He added that the Prime Minister’s successful visit to India brought significant results that consolidated the achievements made so far and created a model for future cooperation.

“Based on the national development visions of both countries, Vision 2041 for Bangladesh and Vision 2047 for India, the two countries have entered a new era of cooperation,” the envoy said.

He said there will be cooperation in the areas of digitalization, ecology, joint development of satellites and other new areas of cooperation such as the blue economy, oceanography and fintech. “This means a future-oriented partnership based on our common aspirations for the future,” he added.