Following the demands of student protesters who spearheaded demonstrations that ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, as confirmed in a statement.
“The president has dissolved parliament,” announced Shiplu Zaman, press secretary to President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Additionally, the statement noted the release of Begum Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former prime minister, from house arrest.
The decision to dissolve parliament came after consultations with defense force leaders, political party heads, student leaders, and representatives from civil society, as outlined in the presidential statement.
Sheikh Hasina’s exit on Monday marked the conclusion of her 15-year second term in power, having governed Bangladesh for a total of 20 years over the last three decades, continuing the political legacy of her father, state founder Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1975.
