At least 93 people have been killed and over a thousand injured as a new surge of violence erupts in Bangladesh.
Dhaka [Bangladesh], August 5 A new wave of violence in Bangladesh has resulted in at least 93 deaths, with thousands injured, many by gunfire, according to the Daily Star on Monday.
On the first day of a student-led non-cooperation campaign, anti-government protesters clashed with police in at least 20 districts, aiming to pressure Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign. This recent unrest has now claimed 300 lives in just three weeks, marking it as the deadliest period in Bangladesh's civil movement history.
The violence escalated further when members of the ruling Awami League joined the streets to suppress the demonstrations. In Sirajganj, an angry mob attacked a police station, killing 13 officers. Additionally, clashes in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj resulted in at least five more deaths, bringing the district's toll to 18, the highest in any district.
In Dhaka, the capital, at least 12 people have died due to the protests. The country, already in a state of emergency, has seen widespread vandalism and arson targeting homes of ruling party lawmakers, Awami League offices, police stations, law enforcement vehicles, prison vans, and hospital buses.
In response to the escalating violence, authorities have imposed a nationwide curfew and blocked 4G mobile internet, as reported by the Daily Star. Casualty and damage reports continued to come in late into Sunday night, with severe injuries among many hospitalized patients suggesting that the death toll may increase further.
Fire service data shows that at least 70 properties, both private and government-owned, have been set ablaze. Bangladesh has announced a three-day shutdown of public and private offices, including banks, amid the deepening crisis. Students are also planning a long march today, which may lead to potential clashes with pro-government groups.
The protests have become focused on a single demand: the resignation of Hasina and her cabinet. Protesters have also launched a non-cooperation campaign, urging citizens not to pay taxes and advising migrant workers not to send money home through banking systems.
In light of the ongoing violence, India has advised its nationals to avoid traveling to Bangladesh until further notice. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also strongly cautioned Indian citizens currently in Bangladesh to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and stay in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka.
The unrest is driven by demands for reforming the quota system for civil service jobs, which currently reserves positions for certain groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans. The situation worsened after students opposed a new policy that allocates government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violence including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka.