Bangladesh President Dissolves Parliament

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Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved Parliament, ending ex-Premier Sheikh Hasina’s era as weeks of protests over quota in government jobs forced her to flee to India.
Parliament was formed after the controversial Jan 7 national election, which was boycotted by top opposition parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Anadolu Agency reported the presidency in a statement said the decision was taken after discussions with the armed forces chiefs, leaders of political parties, representatives of the civil society and leaders of the student-led protest movement.
The students had given a 24-hour deadline for the dissolution of Parliament and for an interim government to be formed.
The statement said Khaleda Zia, the main opposition leader and head of BNP, was also released. The 78-year-old and twice the prime minister of Bangladesh was sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption in 2018.
25 killed, 150 hospitalised
In a related development, close to 25 people have been killed and over 150 hospitalised after protesters set a hotel on fire in southwestern Bangladesh, Sputnik reported on Tuesday, citing local media.
The death toll from the fire at the Zabeer International Hotel in the city of Jashore reached 25 people, The Daily Star reported, citing Abdul Kadir, an official with the Bangladeshi Fire Service and Civil Defence.
He also said the protesters set the hotel ablaze around 10.05am on Monday. The fire was extinguished by 11.45pm, he added.
Later in the day, the Dhaka Tribune reported that over 150 patients had been admitted to a local hospital following the fire.
Protests and demonstrations began in Dhaka and across the country after the announcement of a multi-day “non-cooperation action” with the authorities, which was launched on Sunday by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Clashes between anti-government students, police and government supporters escalated into riots.
The Bangladeshi government has imposed a curfew in Dhaka and other cities in the country from 6pm until further notice.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week have been declared national holidays.
- Bernama

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