Bangladesh's prime minister Sheikh Hasina set to flee to London after resigning and fleeing country amid riots that killed 300 people
The Bangladeshi prime minister is thought to be seeking 'political asylum' in the UK after she fled the country by helicopter.
Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, slipped out of the capital Dhaka as protesters stormed her palace demanding that she quit.
The country has been rocked by violent protests with the 'Iron Lady's' government declaring a nationwide shoot-on-sight policy, which has killed more than 300 and left tens of thousands injured.
Ms Hasina, 76, who has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, is now believed to be heading to London where she will reportedly seek 'asylum', Indian media has said. She is the aunt of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who represents the Hampstead and Highgate constituency of north London.
As news of her departure spread across the South Asian country, millions took to the streets to celebrate.
Crowds waved flags, some dancing on top of a tank, before thousands broke through the gates of Hasina’s official residence in Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s Channel 24 broadcast images of crowds running into the compound, waving to the camera as they celebrated, looting furniture and books while others relaxed on beds.
Student-led demonstrations against new civil service job quotas began last month, but a brutal crackdown on them by police fuelled wider calls for Ms Hasina to stand down.
Shortly after she was seen on TV boarding a military helicopter, the army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, announced he would form a caretaker government.
General Waker – who has promised the military will stand down when a new government is formed – said that an investigation would be launched into the deadly crackdown on the protests that fuelled outrage against Ms Hasina.
