Bangladesh: At least 76 people have been murdered as police skirmishes with anti-government protesters worsen.
The unrest began when student leaders launched a civil disobedience movement demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. According to officials, 13 police officers were killed when hundreds of protesters besieged a police station in the Sirajganj area.
Initially, the student protests focused on eliminating quotas in civil service employment but have since expanded into a broader anti-government movement. Police and ruling party supporters were seen firing live ammunition at anti-government protesters, along with using tear gas and rubber bullets.
Since the Bangladesh protests started in July, over 270 people have died. A national nighttime curfew has been in effect since 18:00 (noon GMT).
On Sunday, Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq told BBC’s Newshour that officials were exercising “restraint.” “If we hadn’t shown restraint, there would have been bloodshed. Our patience is limited,” he added.
In the capital, Dhaka, mobile internet connectivity has been suspended, restricting people from using 4G or 3G services. The authorities have not disclosed when internet services will return to normal.
v He reported that a crowd of several thousand protesters had set fire to cars and motorbikes outside a hospital.
Students Against Racism, the group leading the anti-government protests, announced that a nationwide civil disobedience action would begin on Sunday. They urged people to refrain from paying taxes or electricity bills and called for the closure of all factories and public transportation. supernews