BANGLADESH’S President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament today to allow a fresh general election following the overthrow of prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.

Mr Shahabuddin also lifted the house arrest of opposition politician Khaleda Zia, which had been in place since 2018, as crowds partied in the streets and took selfies in the official residence of the premier, who resigned and fled to India on Monday morning following weeks of protests she had sought to suppress with mass arrests and the killing of hundreds of demonstrators.

Protest leaders said they would not allow a military-backed government to take interim control, as had been suggested by army chief General Waker uz-Zaman on Monday.