Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Bangladesh president orders release of jailed ex-PM, protesters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Aug 2024 20:58
4 Min Read

Bangladesh's military says it would lift a curfew imposed to quash protests at dawn Tuesday.

Listen
  • x
  •  At least 56 killed in Bangladesh unrest
    Men run past a shopping center, which was set on fire by protesters during a rally against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government on August 4, 2024. (AP)

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday ordered the release of incarcerated former prime minister and major opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after her opponent Sheikh Hasina was deposed and the military gained control.

In a statement, the President's press staff stated that a conference convened by Shahabuddin "decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately."

The conference was attended by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the Navy and Air Force, and prominent representatives from numerous opposition groups, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to the statement, all those arrested during protests are also to be freed.

Hasina resigned and left the country on Monday, Reuters reported, after thousands of protesters stormed her official residence amid ongoing violent student-led protests that have killed at least 356 people since July.

Earlier Monday, Waker said on national television that Hasina had resigned and that the military would create a caretaker administration. "The meeting decided to form an interim government immediately," the broadcast revealed. 

Zia, 78, is in terrible condition and confined to a hospital after being sentenced to 17 years in jail for corruption in 2018.

At least 93 people, including 14 police officers, were killed with over a thousand wounded on Sunday amid violent clashes between the police and anti-government demonstrators during nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina, marking one of the deadliest demonstrations since they ignited in July.

The nationwide protests took place in 20 districts on Sunday against the ruling party, with law enforcement firing tear gas and stun grenades to disband the tens of thousands of demonstrations demanding Hasina resign following weeks of violent student-led anti-quota protests.

Related News

Pakistan’s top diplomat visits Dhaka after 12-year gap

Bangladesh to unveil major reforms on Hasina ouster anniversary

At least 56 people were killed Monday during the ensuing violence, mainly in Dhaka but also in other cities, police said, saying gangs had launched revenge attacks on Hasina's allies.

The latest violence took the total number of people killed since protests began in early July to at least 356, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials, and doctors at hospitals.

Soldiers and police in several cases did not intervene to stem Sunday's protests, unlike during the past month of rallies that repeatedly ended in deadly crackdowns.

Bangladesh's military said it will remove a curfew imposed to quell protesters at daybreak Tuesday. "Offices, factories, schools, colleges... will be open" from 6:00 am Tuesday, according to a military statement

Why are they protesting?

Since July 1, thousands of Bangladeshis have been protesting the reinstatement of the quota system, which was abolished in 2018 since it was deemed unlawful but was restored on June 5.

With around 18 million young people in Bangladesh unemployed, according to government data, the reintroduction of the quota scheme has deeply frustrated graduates who are already facing a severe job crisis.

Last month, the government deployed police and paramilitary forces to contain the violence, but the unrest persisted. On July 19, the government imposed a curfew and brought in the army to curb the protests.

The quota system was originally implemented by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh and father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as a reward for fighters who fought in Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. In 1997, and again in 2010, the quotas were expanded to include the descendants of freedom fighters.

Students argued that the system was unfair and called for most government jobs to be awarded based on merit.

On July 21, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh significantly reduced the number of government jobs reserved for war veterans and their descendants, in a landmark decision following violent student protests that resulted in 155 deaths.

Shah Monjurul Hoque, a lawyer representing student groups, indicated that the court ruled that only 5% of government jobs will now be reserved for the children and grandchildren of those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, down from the previous 30% quota for this group.

  • bangladesh
  • sheikh hasina

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS