- Dozens killed, hundreds injured in Bangladesh violence
- National curfew imposed; internet services suspended
- Protests demand PM Hasina’s resignation, justice for deaths
The current turmoil comes after last month’s violent student protests, which killed at least 200 people and injured hundreds.
Fresh violence in Bangladesh has killed dozens and injured hundreds, with internet services shut down and a statewide curfew imposed.
Almost 100 people were reportedly killed on Sunday as student demonstrators demanding the prime minister’s resignation battled with police and ruling party supporters.
The country’s largest Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, reported that at least 95 people were killed in the violence.
To quell the violence, the interior ministry ordered an indefinite national curfew, which took effect at 6 p.m. local time (noon GMT).
Internet connections were also suspended, and social media apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp were unavailable.
The latest violence follows at least 200 deaths and thousands of injuries during student protests last month, which were sparked by a quota system that allocated 30% of government positions to veterans’ families.
At least 10,000 other people were arrested.
The Supreme Court has now reduced the quota system.
However, students have returned to the streets, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and justice for those killed.
Demonstrators and human rights groups have accused the government of using disproportionate force, something the prime minister and her cabinet deny.
Protesters attacked a large public hospital in the city of Dhaka on Sunday, torching several vehicles.
In another part of the city, police used tear gas to remove hundreds of demonstrators who had stopped a key thoroughfare. According to witnesses, some homemade devices exploded, and gunfire was fired.
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Student protesters have launched a non-cooperation campaign to force the government’s resignation. They are urging people to refrain from paying taxes or electricity bills and to avoid going to work on Sunday, which is a working day in Bangladesh.
Ms Hasina offered to speak with student leaders on Saturday, but a coordinator declined, responding with a one-point demand for her resignation.
She committed to thoroughly examine the killings and punish those responsible for the violence.
Those protesting on the streets right now are not students but terrorists seeking to destabilise the country, Hasina stated following a national security council meeting.
I implore our fellow citizens to take decisive action against these terrorists.
Ms Hasina has ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, winning a fourth consecutive term in January elections that her primary opponents boycotted.
