ISLAMABAD: As Bangladesh witnesses a historic uprising that toppled over a decade of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Pakistan on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of the country and wished for peace and normalcy.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement: “The Government and people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and sincerely hope for a peaceful and speedy return to normalcy.”
The FO added that Pakistan is confident that the “resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people” will lead them to a “harmonious future”.
Anti-government protests in Bangladesh, which began as student demonstrations against government hiring rules in July, ended on Monday with the country’s “autocratic” Prime Minister Hasin fleeing to India and the army announcing it would form an interim government.
At least 300 people were killed in more than a month of deadly protests that ended her 15-year rule.
Pakistan’s statement in support of the Bangladeshi people comes as a major step in regional geopolitics, as Islamabad’s ties with Dhaka have previously been overshadowed by Hasina’s administration, which has grown closer to Delhi.
Bangladesh’s parliament was also dissolved following Hasina’s departure from Dhaka, as confirmed by the office of President Mohammed Shahabuddin in a statement.
The dissolution of parliament came hours after protesting student leaders set a deadline to dissolve parliament and warned that a “strict program” would be launched if the deadline was not met.
The decision to dissolve parliament was taken after meetings with defense chiefs, political party leaders, student leaders and some civil society representatives, the president said in a statement.
Bangladeshi army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman was due to meet student leaders to discuss the formation of an interim government to hold elections soon after taking over.
General Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation on Monday after days of violent protests in which around 300 people were killed.
The general also announced the formation of an interim government.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will now be the chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, The Daily Star reported today, citing a Bangabhaban press release.
