Bangladesh Shifts Power: President Orders Release of Khaleda Zia as Military Takes Over

On Monday, Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the immediate release of jailed former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, shortly after her rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the military seized control. The decision came during a meeting led by President Shahabuddin, which also included Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and leaders from opposition parties such as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The meeting unanimously decided to free Zia, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and all individuals arrested during recent student protests.

The meeting also resolved to establish an interim government promptly, as announced by General Waker-Uz-Zaman in a televised address. Hasina’s resignation and the military’s assumption of power follow intense nationwide protests that have resulted in nearly 100 deaths. Hasina had been trying to manage the unrest since early July but fled the country following severe violence on Sunday.

Khaleda Zia, 78, has been in poor health and is currently hospitalized after being sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption in 2018. The move to release her and all protest detainees marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Bangladesh.