Dhaka, Bangladesh - August 04, 2024

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What began as peaceful student protests in Bangladesh against a quota system for government jobs escalated into an uprising that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country by helicopter.

The end of her 15 years in power came after weeks of violent riots in which nearly 300 people were killed, local media reported.

The government repeatedly tried to quell the demonstrations, which it blamed on sabotage and opposition parties, with bullets, curfews and internet shutdowns, but these heavy-handed measures backfired, fueling anger and new protests.

On Monday, protesters defied a military curfew to march toward the center of the capital, following a weekend of violence that left dozens dead. As troops withdrew and internet access was restored, tens of thousands of people began celebrating in the streets, with thousands storming the leader’s official residence.