Bangladesh crisis: Sheikh Hasina flees amid massive protests; President releases Khaleda Zia

Hours after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid violent anti-government protests, Army chief general Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the military would form a caretaker government to restore peace and order in the country. After Sheikh Hasina's resignation, thousands of demonstrators stormed her official residence and other buildings associated with her party and family, vandalising and looting the interiors. At least 300 people, including policemen, died during the renewed anti-government protests in Bangladesh that began on Friday. Similar protests took place last month after the Bangladesh high court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, including a 30% reservation for families of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, overturning a 2018 decision by Hasina's government to scrap it. However, the Supreme Court suspended the high court's order after the government's appeal, setting a date of August 7 to hear the government's challenge. The demonstrations escalated when Hasina refused to meet the students' demands, citing court proceedings.