72 people died in Bangladesh
At least 72 people, including 14 policemen, were killed and hundreds injured in violent clashes between protesters and Awami League supporters in different parts of the country on Sunday, the first day of the “non-cooperation” movement declared by student organizations over the reservation system in government jobs in Bangladesh. The protesters arrived to participate in a “non-cooperation program” demanding the resignation of the government. They were opposed by Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League activists and then clashes broke out between the two sides. “So far 72 people have been killed in the day-long clashes across the country,” the “Prothom Alo” newspaper said in its report. According to the police headquarters, 14 policemen are reported to have been killed across the country, of which 13 were from Enayatpur police station in Sirajganj.
Bangladesh shuts down the internet
According to the newspaper, a person was killed in Comilla’s Elliotganj. The Home Ministry decided to impose an indefinite curfew in the country from 6 pm on Sunday. Government agencies have ordered the closure of social media platforms Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. The newspaper reported that mobile providers have been ordered to shut down 4G internet. The Students Against Discrimination Platform called for a complete “non-cooperation” movement from today with a single-point demand for the resignation of the government. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hasina said that those who vandalize Bangladesh in the name of protest are not students but terrorists and asked the public to deal strictly with such people. She said, “I appeal to the countrymen to deal strictly with these terrorists.”
Sheikh Hasina called a meeting
Hasina convened a meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs at Ganabhaban, the paper reported, citing sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The meeting was attended by the chiefs of the army, navy, air force, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and other top security officials. The government has declared a three-day general holiday on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to ensure the safety of people amid violent protests across the country. Six Awami League leaders and activists were beaten to death and several others injured in clashes between ruling party supporters and protesters in Narsingdi, the paper reported. Protesters in the capital took away the bodies of four people from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Protesters reached Central Shaheed Minar with the bodies
According to reports, the protesters reached the Central Shaheed Minar carrying the four bodies and raised anti-government slogans. In a related development, a group of former senior army officials on Sunday urged the government to withdraw the armed forces from the streets and send them back to the barracks. Iqbal Karim, who served as army chief in Prime Minister Hasina’s government, said, “We urge the government to take political initiative to resolve the current situation. Do not destroy the good reputation of our armed forces by involving them in such a campaign.” Most shops and malls in Dhaka remained closed due to the protest. Hundreds of students and working people have gathered at Dhaka’s Shahbagh, causing traffic jams.
Demand for resignation of Sheikh Hasina
According to a report by news portal ‘BDNews24’, the protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and raised slogans demanding justice for those killed in recent protests over reservation reform. Protesters also gathered at the Science Lab Square in the capital on the first day of the non-cooperation movement and raised anti-government slogans. According to the newspaper ‘Daily Star’, unidentified persons set several vehicles on fire at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Sunday. According to the report, people carrying sticks were seen vandalising private cars, ambulances, motorcycles and buses on the hospital premises, creating fear among patients, attendants, doctors and other staff.
Sheikh Hasina’s invitation rejected
The protesters rejected Hasina’s invitation for talks and demanded the resignation of the government. The coordinators of the protests called on students of schools, colleges, universities, private universities and madrassas as well as workers, professionals, political activists and other common people to participate in the protests. Nahid Islam, coordinator of the anti-government protests, announced that they would hold demonstrations and mass sit-ins on Monday to press for their one-point demand. He said in a statement that on Monday they will unveil martyr memorial plaques in memory of those killed recently across the country during the reservation reform movement. Bangladesh recently witnessed violent clashes between police and mainly student protesters in which more than 200 people were killed.
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