The protesters lying on a bed and taking a selfie is one of several visuals believed to be from inside the official residence of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister that went viral online after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left her country. However, it turns out that these visuals are two years old and show the Sri Lankan President’s palace.
In July 2022, angry protesters occupied the official residence of former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the result of months of protests over the unprecedented economic crisis in the island nation. Like Ms Hasina, Mr Rajapaksa too had fled his country before resigning from the top post.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned in a dramatic development today amid massive protests against her government that have claimed over 100 lives in the last two days.
Her resignation was announced at a time when hundreds of protesters violated an indefinite military curfew and stormed her official residence – ‘Ganabhaban’ in the capital Dhaka. By then, she had fled.
Several photos and videos on social media showed protesters vandalising and looting the building. Many were seen carrying away televisions, chairs and tables from one of the most secured buildings in the country.
Chaos prevailed throughout the day as supporters of the ruling Awami League took to the streets to suppress anti-government protesters who violated curfew and gathered for a “Long March to Dhaka”.
The video showed some protesters climbing a large statue of freedom fighter Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (who was Hasina’s father) and starting to chop off the statue’s head with an axe.
At least 300 people were killed in the protests that lasted more than a month and led to the end of Ms Hasina’s 15-year rule.
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said in a broadcast to the nation on state television on Monday that Hasina had resigned and the military would form an interim government.
She has landed at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. She is expected to leave for London soon.
