At least 73 people were killed and hundreds injured in clashes in Bangladesh on Sunday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.
The government declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 p.m. (1200 GMT) on Sunday, the first such measure taken during the current protests, which began last month. Additionally, a three-day general holiday was announced starting Monday.
The unrest has led to the shutdown of internet services and represents the most significant challenge to Hasina’s 20-year regime following her fourth consecutive election win, which was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Critics and human rights groups have accused Hasina’s government of using excessive force against protesters, a claim she and her ministers deny.
Demonstrators blocked major highways on Sunday as student protesters initiated a non-cooperation movement to demand the government’s resignation, leading to widespread violence.
“Those who are protesting on the streets right now are not students but terrorists who are out to destabilize the nation,” Hasina said after a national security panel meeting attended by the chiefs of the army, navy, air force, police, and other agencies. “I appeal to our countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a strong hand.”
Police stations and ruling party offices were targeted as violence erupted across the country of 170 million people.
In the northwestern district of Sirajganj, twelve policemen were beaten to death, according to police official Bijoy Bosak. In the capital, Dhaka, at least eight people, including two students and a ruling party leader, were killed and dozens injured amid fierce clashes.
Bullet Wounds
Two construction workers were killed on their way to work and 30 injured in the central district of Munsiganj during a three-way clash involving protesters, police, and ruling party activists, witnesses said.
“They were brought dead to the hospital with bullet wounds,” said Abu Hena Mohammad Jamal, superintendent of the district hospital. Police stated they had not fired any live bullets.
In the northeastern district of Pabna, at least three people were killed and 50 injured during a clash between protesters and activists of Hasina’s ruling Awami League party, witnesses said. Violence in the northern district of Bogura resulted in three more deaths, while 53 others were killed across 12 other districts, hospital officials reported.
“An attack on a hospital is unacceptable,” said Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen after a group vandalized a medical college hospital and set fire to vehicles, including an ambulance, in Dhaka.
For the second time during the recent protests, the government shut down high-speed internet services. Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were inaccessible, even via broadband connections.
Bangladesh authorities instructed the country’s telecom providers on Sunday to shut down 4G services, effectively disabling internet access, according to a confidential government memo seen by Reuters.
Government Orders
“You are requested to shut down all your 4G services until further notice; only 2G will be effective,” said the document issued by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center, a government intelligence agency. Telecom companies had been warned that their licenses would be canceled if they did not comply with government orders, a source told Reuters. The telecom regulatory body did not respond to Reuters’ calls.
Last month, at least 150 people were killed and thousands injured in violence sparked by student protests against quotas for government jobs. The protests paused after the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas, but students resumed demonstrations last week, demanding justice for the families of those killed.
“I think the genie is out of the bottle, and Hasina may not be able to put it back again,” said Shakil Ahmed, associate professor of government and politics at Jahangirnagar University. “The prime minister should immediately form a national government to facilitate greater unity.”
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman directed his officers to ensure the security of people’s lives, properties, and important state installations under any circumstances, according to a statement. “The Bangladesh Army is a symbol of the people’s trust. The army is always there and will always be there for the people’s interests and for any needs of the state,” the statement quoted him as saying. He also urged officers to remain vigilant about “various rumors” circulating on social media and to execute their duties with honesty, integrity, and justice. Zaman is scheduled to brief the media on Monday.
Source: Reuters
