At least 90 people lost their lives while numerous others have been injured as the student protest has intensified across Bangladesh by the non-cooperation movement announced by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement on Sunday. The deaths including 14 police officers happened during the fresh round of violent protests which had calmed after the Supreme Court overturned the controversial High Court order on reservations.
Violences were reported from various places including capital Dhaka, Bogura, Pabna, Rangpur, Magura, Comilla, Barisal and Feni districts across the country. The attack on the police by unidentified people took place at the Enayetpur police station in the northwest city of Sirajganj, according to Additional Deputy Inspector General Vijay Basak of the Bangladesh police.
12 people died in Dhaka in clashes between protesters under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement and Awami League activists along with police.
Clashes between members of the ruling party and the protestors have turned violent, causing deaths and injuries. Bangladesh State Minister for Water Resource Ministry Zahid Faruk’s house was also vandalised in Barishal today. According to the Awami League sources, angry protesters entered the house, smashed furniture, and attacked the house staff.
Protesters called for “noncooperation”, urging people not to pay taxes and utility bills and not show up for work on Sunday, which is a working day in Bangladesh. The anti-discrimination student movement has announced a “March to Dhaka” programme tomorrow (Monday) to press home for their one-point demand: the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The protestors are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after earlier protests in July against the reintroduction of quota in government jobs for families of freedom fighters. The protests had escalated into massive violence killing over 200 people. Now the students are demanding action of police officers responsible for the death of protestors, along with the PM’s resignation. They claim that police used excessive violence during the last month’s protests.
The initial protest was against the High Court order that restored 30% reservation for families of freedom fighters and was not necessarily against the govt as the govt itself had removed that quota and had appealed against the court order. But this time the protests have turned into a full-fledged anti-govt movement.
Amid the violence, there are also reports of targeting minorities including Hindus by the Islamist elements in protestors. As per reports, Hindu Awami League leader and Rangpur City Corporation Haradhan Roy Hara and his nephew were lynched by a mob.
The Bangladesh government has announced a three-day general holiday from August 5 till August 7 to ensure public safety amid the ongoing violent protests across the country. Moreover, a curfew has been imposed indefinitely starting from 6:00 pm on Sunday in Dhaka and other divisional cities, district towns and all city corporations. The curfew will remain in effect until otherwise directed.
Mobile internet service remains suspended in the country, and Facebook and WhatsApp were not accessible even on broadband. Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said mobile internet and messaging services were disabled to help prevent violence.
