A fresh wave of violence swept through many cities in Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, on Sunday, resulting in over 72 deaths and hundreds of injuries as student protesters clashed with police and ruling party activists. Police fired tear gas and used stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.
The government declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm on Sunday, the first time it has taken such a step during the current protests that began last month. Indian authorities in Bangladesh asked citizens to "remain alert" given the volatile situation.
The protests have become a major challenge for Hasina, who returned to power for a fourth consecutive term in January, ruling for over 15 years. Hasina's government appears to be on the brink of collapse as protesters now push for one demand -- her resignation.
On Sunday, crowds of protesters, many wielding sticks, packed into Dhaka's central Shahbagh Square, with street battles occurring in multiple locations as well as in other key cities. Apart from the capital city, the protesters blocked major highways, clashed with police, and confronted groups supporting the ruling Awami League across many cities. The scenes of chaos and violence have been unprecedented, with local news agencies reporting widespread destruction and fear among citizens.
The protesters, which include students and some groups backed by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have called for 'non-cooperation,' urging people not to pay taxes and utility bills and not to show up for work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh. The protest leaders had called upon the agitators to arm themselves with bamboo sticks, as the previous round of protests in July was largely crushed by the police. This call to arms highlights the escalating nature of the conflict, as both sides prepare for prolonged confrontation.
The protesters attacked offices and establishments that opened today, including the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, a major public hospital in Dhaka. In Dhaka’s Uttara area, some crude bombs were detonated and gunshots were heard, witnesses said. They also torched several vehicles. The rising tension has caused many businesses to shut down, fearing looting and destruction.
The government has shut down high-speed internet services as a fresh protest erupted. The officials of mobile phone operators said they have received a directive to shut down 4G services, Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported. Social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp were not available, even via broadband connections. This move to cut off digital communication aims to stifle the coordination of protests and prevent the spread of real-time updates that could further inflame the situation.
The Assistant High Commission of India in Sylhet city advised Indian nationals to remain alert. The commission tweeted, "All Indian nationals including students living in the jurisdiction of the Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet are requested to be in touch with this office and are advised to remain alert. In case of emergencies, please contact +88-01313076402." This advisory underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger to foreigners in the country.
PM Hasina and her party blamed opposition parties the now-banned right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party and their student wings for instigating violence. After a national security meeting, Hasina alleged, "Those who are protesting on the streets right now are not students, but terrorists who are out to destabilize the nation." She appealed to the "countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a strong hand." This rhetoric indicates a hardline stance from the government, likely leading to more stringent measures against the protesters.
The Awami League has announced that the Prime Minister has asked for all detained students to be released. She instructed top officials and the Home Minister that students who are innocent and against whom there are no allegations of serious crimes like murder and vandalism should also be released, the party said. The release of jailed protesters was one of the key demands of the agitators. This move is seen as a strategic attempt to quell the unrest by addressing some of the protesters' demands.
The Bangladesh Army, in a statement that did not explicitly say whether they supported the protesters, stated that they stand by the people. Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman told officers that "the Bangladesh Army is a symbol of the people's trust" and "it has always stood by the people and will continue to do so for the sake of the people and the state." At the same time, some former military officers have joined the student movement, and ex-Army Chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan turned his Facebook profile picture red in a show of support. The military's ambiguous stance adds another layer of complexity to the crisis, raising questions about their potential role in the unfolding events.
The protests erupted last month over a quota system reserving 30 percent of government jobs for families of Bangladesh's 1971 War of Independence veterans. As demonstrations intensified, the Supreme Court reduced the quota to 5 percent, with 3 percent dedicated to veterans' relatives. However, protests continued, with demonstrators demanding accountability for alleged excessive force used by the government to quell the unrest. The agitation, which has turned violent on multiple occasions, has so far killed at least 200 people across the country, with Dhaka being the epicenter. The continued unrest indicates deep-seated discontent with the current government and the socio-political system in Bangladesh.
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