His parliament Bangladesh was dissolved today, the country’s president’s office announced, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following violent protests in which demonstrators demanded her ouster.

The announcement came hours after student protest leaders set a deadline for the dissolution of parliament and warned that if the deadline was not met, they would implement a “strict program”.

Also, former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia was released today, according to her party spokesperson.

“She is now free,” the spokesman told AFP, less than 24 hours after Bangladeshi President Mohammad Shahabuddin ordered the release of Zia, who was sentenced in 2018 to 17 years in prison for corruption.

Bangladesh army chief General Walker-Uz-Zaman was due to meet today at 09:00 with student leaders to discuss the formation of an interim government, which, once in place, is expected to hold elections.

It has not yet been made clear whether this meeting took place and whether the deadline set by the students for the dissolution of parliament was set after the meeting.

India today expressed its “deep concern” over the crisis in neighboring Bangladesh.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told parliament in New Delhi that he remains “deeply concerned until order is clearly restored”, while confirming Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India.