Leader Of Bangladeshi Protests Says Military Government Unacceptable

MOSCOW, August 6 (Bernama-Sputnik) -- Leaders of the student protests that erupted in Bangladesh said on Tuesday that the protesters found any military or military-backed government unacceptable for the country, adding that only the government approved by the student movement would be formed, reported Sputnik.

Protests and demonstrations erupted in Dhaka and across the country following the announcement of a multi-day "non-cooperation action" with the authorities, launched on Sunday by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The situation escalated into riots as clashes broke out between anti-government students, police, and government supporters.

"No government other than the one proposed by the students will be accepted. As we have said, no military government, or one backed by the military, or a government of fascists, will be accepted," Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was quoted by Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star as saying in a video address.

The leader of the protesters addressed Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin to take immediate steps to restore law and order in the country, saying that by morning the composition of an interim government should be announced.

"We have decided that the interim government would be formed, in which internationally-renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, would be the chief adviser," he said, adding that Mohammad had already given consent to the offer.

Until a new government is formed, the students should remain on the streets to "safeguard their uprising", Nahid said, adding that the student movement had nothing to do with acts of violence, attacks on temples, looting and sabotage that took place during the protests.

"We are calling on everyone to take to the streets from tomorrow [Tuesday] morning. The 'Committee to Safeguard Public Property and Communal Harmony' formed and led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced that they will guard every locality. We have to protect our minority communities, we have to protect our public property and we have to protect our country," the protest leader said.

On Monday, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister left the official residence in the capital of Dhaka for a safer place. News outlets reported that thousands of protesters had stormed the palace of Hasina, who had left Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi president held a meeting on Monday with representatives of political parties, civil associations and commanders of the three branches of the armed forces, where it was decided to dissolve the Parliament in order to form an interim government as soon as possible.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK