Bangladesh youth clean streets, parliament building after end of protests

Bangladeshi youth volunteered to clear debris from the streets, parliament, and other state buildings as the country begins to return to normalcy following weeks of nationwide protests that resulted in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid.

After Sheikh Hasina hastily fled the country following her resignation, young Bangladeshis, who had been demanding accountability for the mass killing of students, erupted in celebration, having successfully overthrown their government.

Protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s residence, parliament, and other state buildings to mark their victory against an authoritarian regime. Some even went as far as seizing items from Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, including her clothes, bags, and furniture.

Now, with the protests subsided and student leaders having successfully negotiated with the military to allow Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus to head an interim government until fresh elections are held, the youth have returned to the streets to clean up the aftermath of weeks of chaos.

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Student protests erupted in Bangladesh in July, demanding the revocation of quotas in civil service jobs. However, police violence against the demonstrators, which resulted in over 400 deaths, transformed the protests into a full-fledged movement.

On August 4, around 100 demonstrators were killed in a single day, which intensified public anger against Sheikh Hasina’s government and ultimately brought an end to her 15-year rule over Bangladesh.