Bangladesh, at least 300 dead in anti-government protests. The prime minister resigns and flees –

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country, which has been in turmoil for a month due to anti-government student protests. According to information from local newspaper Prothom Alo, Hasina left the country on a military helicopter at 2:30 pm local time, accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, headed to India, in West Bengal. For the moment, the prime minister’s press secretary, Naimul Islam Khan, has not confirmed the press reports. Anti-government protesters stormed the prime minister’s palace shortly after it was announced that the leader had left it and was headed to safety.

Meanwhile, the death toll from protests has risen to 300, with 94 people dead on Sunday, according to an AFP tally based on police reports and bulletins from doctors and hospitals. Protests resumed today, with the capital Dhaka under heavy guard with soldiers and police controlling the streets. Roadblocks and barricades blocked access to the streets leading to Prime Minister Hasina’s office. Now the head of the armed forces has announced the formation of an interim government.

The protests in Bangladesh began peacefully with students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, but the demonstrations have since turned into an unprecedented defiance and uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party. The government has attempted to quell the violence with force, fueling further outrage and calls for Hasina to step down. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks. The unrest has led to schools and universities across the country being closed, and authorities have imposed a curfew. Over the weekend, protesters called for “non-cooperation,” urging people not to pay taxes or bills or to report to work on Sundays, which are a working day in Bangladesh.