In a national address on Monday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government will now take over the administration of the country. Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh for two decades, reportedly boarded a military helicopter after crowds ignored a national curfew and stormed her palace in Dhaka.

The resignation comes amid widespread protests that have resulted in the deaths of approximately 300 people. The situation escalated further with nearly 100 deaths following a night of deadly violence on Sunday. Despite the high tension on Monday, the news of Hasina's departure led to scenes of jubilation and celebration on the streets of Dhaka.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman called on citizens to trust the army to restore peace to the country. Images broadcast on national television showed thousands of people breaking into the prime minister’s official residence and celebrating in the streets.

The protests began a month ago over a controversial job quota scheme, which reserved a third of government jobs for children of war veterans from the country’s 1971 independence war with Pakistan. The government's response included shutting down universities, imposing a nationwide curfew, and cutting off access to phones and the internet. Despite these measures, the protests continued, leading to the top court's ruling that the quotas should be scaled back from 30 percent to 5 percent, with 3 percent for relatives of veterans.

However, this did not quell the unrest. The demonstration movement transformed into a nationwide uprising demanding Hasina's resignation and accountability for the deaths of protesters. With the prime minister's departure, it remains to be seen how the interim government will handle the ongoing crisis and calls for reform. (ILKHA)