Bangladesh Anti-Government Protests Result in Over 50 Deaths
At least 59 individuals have lost their lives amid escalating conflicts between police and anti-government demonstrators in Bangladesh.
The turmoil intensified as student leaders initiated a civil disobedience movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The violence reached a peak when thousands of protesters attacked a police station in Sirajganj, resulting in the deaths of thirteen officers, according to police reports.
Initially, the student protests began last month with a call to abolish quotas in civil service jobs but have since evolved into a broader anti-government campaign.
Protesters, captured in photos from Getty Images, are seen blocking the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 4, 2024, demanding justice for those arrested and killed in the recent anti-quota protests. They also obstructed a highway in the capital city.
Both police and supporters of the ruling party were observed using live ammunition against the protesters. Additionally, tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed by law enforcement. A nationwide overnight curfew has been enforced since 18:00 (12:00 GMT).
Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq told the BBC’s Newshour that the authorities have exercised restraint. “Had we not shown restraint, there would have been a bloodbath. Our patience has limits,” he stated.
In Dhaka, mobile internet access has been suspended. An official from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) confirmed that 4G services in the Dhaka area are currently halted, though broadband services remain operational. The official did not specify when mobile internet services would be restored.
Reports of deaths and injuries have emerged from various regions, including Bogra, Pabna, and Rangpur. In Dhaka, thousands have gathered in the main square, with violent clashes occurring in other parts of the city. Supporters of the ruling Awami League have also been involved in confrontations with anti-government protesters.
“The entire city has become a battlefield,” an anonymous police officer told AFP news agency, noting that thousands of protesters had set fire to vehicles outside a hospital.
Students Against Discrimination, a key group in the anti-government demonstrations, has called for the prime minister’s resignation and announced a nationwide disobedience movement beginning Sunday. They urged citizens to withhold taxes and utility bill payments and called for a shutdown of factories and public transport.
Getty Images also captured scenes of protesters carrying the body of a wounded demonstrator along Karwan Bazar Road in Dhaka on August 4, 2024. More than 200 people were killed in July’s violence, many shot by police, and around 10,000 have been detained in a major security crackdown over the past two weeks, including opposition supporters and students.
The Awami League is also holding marches nationwide. The upcoming days are seen as crucial for both sides.
“Sheikh Hasina should not only resign, but there should also be a trial for the killings, looting, and corruption,” Nahid Islam, a leader of the student movement, told a large gathering in Dhaka on Saturday.
The protests present a significant challenge to Ms. Hasina, who secured a fourth consecutive term in January’s elections, boycotted by the main opposition. The student protests began last month over the allocation of civil service jobs to relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war with Pakistan. Although the government has scaled back most of the quota following a ruling, students continue to demand justice for the killed and injured and now call for Ms. Hasina’s resignation.
Supporters of Ms. Hasina have ruled out her stepping down. Previously, Ms. Hasina offered unconditional dialogue with the student leaders, expressing a desire to end the violence. “I want to sit with the agitating students and listen to them. I want no conflict,” she stated. However, the student protesters have rejected her offer.
In response to the unrest, Ms. Hasina called in the military last month to restore order after several police stations and state buildings were torched. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Bangladeshi army chief, met with junior officers in Dhaka to assess the security situation, affirming the army’s commitment to supporting the people and the state.
The protests have reignited in several cities, and the government is struggling to manage the growing anger over its initial response. Bangladeshi media reports that most of those killed in last month’s protests were shot by police, with thousands injured.
The government maintains that police used firearms in self-defense and to protect state properties.
