Bangladesh President Orders Release of Former Prime Minister

Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin has ordered the release of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia, as well as those arrested during protests, just hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled. A statement issued by the president's office reported that a meeting chaired by Shahabuddin "unanimously decided to immediately release the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, and all individuals arrested during the student protests." It noted that "the meeting decided to form a transitional government immediately." The meeting included Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, leaders of the navy and air force, and leaders of several opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami party.