Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country amid escalating protests and violence.

Following weeks of unrest and clashes that resulted in over 300 deaths, Hasina’s departure came as protesters stormed her palace in Dhaka, despite a national curfew.

In response, Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government will take over, calling for calm.

Protesters, defying the curfew, continued to demonstrate, with large crowds gathering in the capital. The violence peaked on Sunday, with nearly 100 deaths reported in a single night.

The unrest, which began with student groups demanding the removal of a controversial job quota system, has evolved into a broader movement against Hasina’s administration.

The prime minister had been in power for nearly 20 years and had recently won re-election in a contested vote.

In the wake of the violence, the government has declared a holiday, closed courts, and restricted internet access.

Reports indicate that at least 11,000 people have been arrested, and there have been significant disruptions to education and daily life.

The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Türk, has condemned the violence and called for restraint from all sides, urging the Bangladeshi government to end the crackdown on peaceful protesters and restore internet services to facilitate dialogue.

It remains uncertain if the resignation will quell the protests or if demonstrators will continue their demands for change.