In Bangladesh, a new wave of violence has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 91 people, including 13 police officers, with many more injured. The violence erupted as police resorted to using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The fatalities were confirmed by police and medical personnel on Sunday, with incidents occurring in various locations including Dhaka, and the districts of Bogura, Pabna, Rangpur, Magura, Comilla, Barisal, and Feni. In the northwestern city of Sirajganj, the Enayetpur police station was attacked, though the identities of the assailants remain unknown.
The protests began in July, sparked initially by students opposing a quota system for government jobs, but have since escalated, leading to the deaths of 200 people. Prime Minister Hasina has labelled the protestors as criminals rather than students, condemning the violence and urging the public to respond firmly.
In response to the unrest, authorities have imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew and blocked internet access. The situation remains highly volatile, with at least 11,000 people arrested in recent weeks. According to reports from Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury in Dhaka, the protesters are resolute in their demands, refusing to leave until the government steps down. The atmosphere is tense, with fears growing about what might happen next.
A student activist, Prapti Taposhi, who witnessed the clashes, described chaotic scenes, with police engaged in running battles against demonstrators. Despite the government’s imposition of an indefinite curfew, protests continue to gather momentum in central Dhaka.
In an act of defiance, protesters have called for noncooperation, urging people not to pay taxes or utility bills and to avoid going to work. Although businesses and offices remain open, commuters have faced significant challenges.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has also moved a planned “March to Dhaka” protest from Tuesday to Monday, calling for a nationwide mobilisation to lay siege to the capital. Meanwhile, the government has declared a public holiday from Monday to Wednesday, closed schools and universities indefinitely, and shut down mobile internet and messaging services to curb further violence.
Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Ali Arafat, stated that the government is acting defensively, claiming that those responsible for the violence are miscreants attacking government supporters. The ongoing protests, which began over job quotas but have since grown into a broader anti-government movement, represent the biggest challenge for Hasina’s government since January, when her party, the Awami League, won a contested fourth term in office.
Critics and human rights groups have accused the government of using excessive force to quash the protests, a claim the government denies. The unrest, which has led to the arrests of thousands and widespread disruption, shows no sign of abating as the nation of 170 million people faces an uncertain and dangerous future.
