POLITICAL VACUUM
Waker said a curfew would be lifted on Tuesday morning, with the military set to lead an interim government.
Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin late on Monday ordered the release of prisoners from the protests, as well as former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, 78.
Zia, who is in poor health, was jailed by her arch-rival Hasina for graft in 2018.
The president and army chief also met late Monday, alongside key opposition leaders, with the president’s press team saying it had been “decided to form an interim government immediately”.
It was not immediately clear if Waker would lead it.
Hasina’s fate was also uncertain.
Hasina, 76, fled the country by helicopter, a source close to the ousted leader told AFP.
Media in neighbouring India reported Hasina had landed at a military airbase near New Delhi.
A top-level source said she wanted to “transit” on to London, but calls by the British government for a UN-led investigation into “unprecedented levels of violence” put that into doubt.
There were widespread calls by protesters to ensure Hasina’s close allies remained in the country.
Bangladesh’s military said they had shut down Dhaka’s international airport on Monday evening, without giving a reason.
