Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country following weeks of violent anti-government demonstrations. 

Thousands of demonstrators have stormed the prime minister's residence, escalating the tension in the nation. The military chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, is expected to address the nation shortly as massive crowds of protesters fill the streets of Dhaka.

The protests have been largely driven by student activists who called for a march to the capital, defying a nationwide curfew. This follows a day of violent clashes across the country that resulted in nearly 100 deaths. As the protests began, armored personnel carriers and troops patrolled Dhaka's streets, with little civilian traffic in sight except for a few motorcycles and three-wheel taxis.

According to officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and a source within the Bangladesh Army, Hasina departed the capital city, Dhaka, seeking safety.

Reports from local media indicate that thousands of protesters have breached the prime minister's residence.

Prior to this, Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who is based in the US, urged security forces to prevent any coup and to protect his mother's 15-year rule. In a Facebook post, he stated, "Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution. It means don't allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty."

As protesters fill the streets of Dhaka, military chief Waker-Uz-Zaman is expected to address the nation shortly.

The protests, which began in July as a student movement opposing civil service job quotas, have grown to express broader dissatisfaction with economic conditions, corruption, and what many perceive as the authoritarian nature of Hasina's government.

Hasina, who was the longest-serving female leader in the world, has faced numerous assassination attempts and periods of imprisonment during her tenure. However, her administration has been marred by accusations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of dissent, which she denies.

This unrest has posed the most significant challenge to Hasina's leadership. She secured a fourth consecutive term in the January elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

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