Detroit Evening Report: Bangladeshi Michiganders rejoice amid news of PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation

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Protesters climb a public monument as they celebrate the news of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.

Protesters climb a public monument as they celebrate the news of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.

Many Bangladeshi Americans in Michigan are celebrating on Monday after receiving word that the country’s prime minister resigned and fled the country.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision to flee comes after weeks of protests against a quota system for government jobs descended into violence and grew into a broader challenge to her 15-year rule.

Student protestors have been asking the government to end the quota system, which allocated one-third of all government jobs to the descendants of those who fought in the Independence War of 1971. That left a small number of jobs for others in a country with more than 170 million people.

The government met protestors with force — killing hundreds and wounding and arresting thousands.  More than 200 people have been killed by government forces in the last few days as people demanded answers about the deaths of student protestors. 

Thousands of protestors celebrated the news of her resignation in the capital Dhaka.  But the celebrations soon turned violent in places, with protesters attacking symbols of her government and party, ransacking and setting fires in several buildings.

A community gathering is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Jayne Field in Detroit. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Author

  • Nargis Rahman
    Nargis Hakim Rahman is the Civic Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Rahman graduated from Wayne State University, where she was a part of the Journalism Institute of Media Diversity.