<> for mysql password

Hey. I refer to all related links regarding the MySQL password special character. but I cannot find an answer for this

my credentials for the database

User Name : root
Password  : <F8>T\]brr

      

        
        
        
      

    

When I logged into PhpMyAdmin it works great. But in php it is recognized as a tag element (please check the image so you can understand)

'password' => '<F8>T\]brr',

      

        
        
        
      

    

is there something missing on this? please, help

EDIT 01

$db['default'] = array(
    'dsn'   => '',
    'hostname' => 'localhost',
    'username' => 'root',
    'password' => '<F8>T\\]brr',
    'database' => 'cooperative',
    'dbdriver' => 'mysqli',
    'dbprefix' => '',
    'pconnect' => FALSE,
    'db_debug' => (ENVIRONMENT !== 'production'),
    'cache_on' => FALSE,
    'cachedir' => '',
    'char_set' => 'utf8',
    'dbcollat' => 'utf8_general_ci',
    'swap_pre' => '',
    'encrypt' => FALSE,
    'compress' => FALSE,
    'stricton' => FALSE,
    'failover' => array(),
    'save_queries' => TRUE
);