Former Leader Leaves Country After Student Protests Turn Deadly

Sheikh Hasina Wazed Resigns as Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Former Leader Leaves Country After Student Protests Turn Deadly

76-Year-Old Leader Guided Bangladesh's Rise for Decades

Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the 76-year-old Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has resigned and left the country following weeks of deadly student-led protests.

Wazed, who has been in power since 1996, has been a controversial figure throughout her tenure. She is a former tough opposition leader who fought Ershad's military regime in the 1980s and has sought to extend her rule for decades.

The protests, which began over a proposed hike in transport fares, quickly escalated into a broader expression of discontent with Wazed's government. Students and other activists demanded her resignation and accused her of corruption and authoritarianism.

The government responded with force, using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. At least five people were killed in the crackdown, and hundreds more were injured.

Wazed initially refused to step down, but the pressure from the protests and the international community eventually became too great. She announced her resignation on July 10th and left the country for an undisclosed destination.