Bangladesh, Aug 04 :
Over 70 people died in violent clashes that broke out between protesters and the ruling Awami League supporters in Bangladesh on Sunday. The protests erupted demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when the ruling government’s supporters opposed them.
Students’ movement had announced a non-cooperation movement demanding the PM’s resignation to begin from Sunday. Protesters attending the programme launched under the movement faced opposition from the supporters of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League activists.
Clashes were reported in at least 13 districts across Bangladesh. Deaths were reported from regions including Feni, Sirajganj, Munshiganj, Rangpur and Dhaka.
A curfew has been imposed on Sunday by the Home Ministry following the violence.
The government also ordered the shutdown of social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, reported Prothom Alo newspaper. Suspension of the internet was also directed to prevent further escalation of the protests.
Amid fresh violence in the country, India issued an advisory to its citizens.
The platform Students Against Discrimination called for an all-out non-cooperation movement against PM Hasina.
Meanwhile, Hasina alleged that those protesting were not students but terrorists and vowed strict action against them. “I appeal to the countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a firm hand,” she said.
A meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs chaired by Hasina took place at Ganabhaban to discuss the situation. Reportedly, chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, police, and other top security agencies took part in the meeting.
Amid protests, most of the shops and malls remained shut in Dhaka. Hundreds of students and professionals had gathered at Dhaka’s Shahbagh, blocking traffic on all sides.
The protesters under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement chanted slogans calling for Hasina’s resignation and justice for those killed in the recent violence relating to the quota reform protests.
Several vehicles at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) were torched. Protest coordinators had called on students from schools, colleges, universities, madrasas, professionals, political activists and other public members to join the protests.
Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the anti-government protests, announced said they will stage a demonstration and mass sit-in on Monday.
A large students’ rally took place in Dhaka on Saturday to announce their demand for a single-point agenda proceeded without incident, and clashes erupted in various other parts of the country.
There have been reports of vandalism and arson attacks on police vehicles and government buildings in multiple locations.
Prime Minister Hasina offered to sit for talks on Saturday with the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. However, it was turned down by the coordinators.
The fresh clashes erupted in the country days after over 200 people were killed in violent clashes between the police and mostly student protesters demanding an end to the controversial quota system, reserving 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of war veterans.
