76 KILLED IN VIOLENT CLASHES IN BANGLADESH AS PROTESTERS DEMAND PM HASINA’S RESIGNATION

Sun 04 August 2024:

At least 76 people, including 13 police officers, have been killed and dozens injured in Bangladesh as police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. The violence occurred in Dhaka and various districts, including Bogura, Pabna, Rangpur, Magura, Comilla, Barisal, and Feni.

An attack on the Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj resulted in casualties, though the attackers’ identities remain unknown. This incident is part of a larger wave of violence that began with student protests in July against a government job quota system, which escalated into widespread unrest.

Prime Minister Hasina labeled the protesters as criminals, not students, and urged people to deal with them harshly. Authorities have blocked internet access, imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew, and arrested at least 11,000 people in recent weeks.

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Widespread Unrest

The unrest has spread across multiple districts, with clashes between protesters, police, and ruling party activists. The situation is described as “volatile and dangerous,” with protesters determined to continue until the government steps down.

An indefinite curfew has been imposed, but protesters continue to gather. They called for a “noncooperation” movement, urging people not to pay taxes or go to work. The “March to Dhaka” protest has been moved up to Monday, with students and the public encouraged to converge on the city.

The government declared a holiday, closed courts, schools, and universities, and shut down mobile internet and messaging services to prevent violence. Officials claim they are acting defensively, accusing protesters of initiating violence.

Dozens of people were killed and scores injured in clashes in Bangladesh as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign https://t.co/bWwJsiLl6d pic.twitter.com/PxtbXtfGMC

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 4, 2024

Background of Protests

The protests began with demands to end the job quota system favoring veterans’ families. The Supreme Court reduced the quota, but unrest continued, with accusations of government overreach and excessive force.

The protests have evolved into a broader antigovernment movement, with critics accusing Hasina’s government of using excessive force to suppress dissent. Political analysts suggest that the government is unlikely to resign without further violence.

Protesters, like restaurant worker Jahirul Islam, demand the government’s resignation. Analysts warn that continued confrontations between protesters and ruling party activists could lead to more bloodshed.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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