World reacts to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power

Reactions as Hasina is forced to resign and flee the country after weeks of deadly unrest in the country.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country after weeks of protests against her government in which hundreds of people were killed.

Hasina, 76, quit on Monday after last month’s student-led protests against a quota system for government jobs turned into a popular call for her sacking – the worst political crisis to hit during her 15-year rule.

As tens of thousands of people surrounded government offices and residences in the capital Dhaka, Hasina fled in an army helicopter with her sister. She has landed in New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

In an address to the nation, Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government will now run the country of 170 million people, without providing details.

Here are some global reactions to Hasina’s ouster and the unrest in the country:

Rahman, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, said on X that “Hasina’s resignation proves the power of the people.”

“Together, let’s rebuild Bangladesh into a democratic and developed nation, where the rights and freedoms of all people are protected,” he urged.

In a statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said his office is concerned by the violence and the “significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers”, saying it was “completely unacceptable”.

“The right to peaceful protest must be protected and never subject to violence and we call on the authorities to release all peaceful protesters and ensure due process is followed for those charged and prosecuted,” Starmer’s spokesperson added.

In Whitechapel, a London