Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns, flees Country amidst protests

Vartha Bharati | 05-08-2024 | 14:57:00 IST

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (PTI)

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her position and departed the country, according to recent media reports. The dramatic turn of events follows a surge of protests, with demonstrators storming the Prime Minister's palace.

A senior advisor to Sheikh Hasina had earlier revealed on Monday that the resignation of the embattled leader is a "possibility" due to the severe political turmoil. "The situation is such that this is a possibility, but I don't know how it will happen," the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had told AFP.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, is expected to address the nation. The rallies, which initially began over civil service job quotas, have escalated into broad demands for the Prime Minister's resignation.

This turmoil echoes past political crises in Bangladesh, including the military-led emergency in January 2007, which led to the formation of a caretaker government.

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Time has come to implement Women's Reservation Act: PM Modi's letter to LS, RS floor leaders

12-04-2026 ¦ 12-04-2026 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the time has come for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act in its true spirit and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with the quota for women in place.

In a letter to the floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ahead of the three-day special sittings of Parliament, Modi also asked all members to come together in one voice to pass the amendments to the women's reservation law, officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

"After extensive deliberations, we have reached the conclusion that the time has now come to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in its true spirit across the country.

"It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with women's reservation in place," the Prime Minister said in his letter dated April 11.

The Budget Session of Parliament has been extended, and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened on April 16 to 18.

The Women's Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.

The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023.

However, the women's quota would have come into effect only after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census. This meant the reservation would not have become enforceable before 2034 if the present law remains as is.

To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, changes were needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; hence, the government is holding a special session to pass the amendments to the law.