International
Bangladesh Anti-Government Protests Kill 80
At least 80 people were killed in Bangladesh on Sunday during escalating clashes between police and anti-government protesters.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the unrest follows student leaders declaring a campaign of civil disobedience to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.
Thirteen police officers lost their lives when thousands attacked a police station in Sirajganj district, according to police reports.
Initially sparked by demands to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, the student protests have morphed into a broader anti-government movement.
Witnesses reported both police and supporters of the governing party firing live ammunition at protesters. Police also deployed tear gas and rubber bullets.
The death toll since the protests began in July has now surpassed 270.
A nationwide curfew has been imposed from 18:00 (12:00 GMT).
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Prime Minister Hasina has remained defiant amidst calls for her resignation. Following a meeting with security chiefs, she stated that the protesters were “not students but terrorists who are out to destabilise the nation.”
Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq in a Newshour programme on BBC, said that authorities have shown restraint, adding, “If we had not shown restraint, there would have been a bloodbath. I guess our patience has limits.”
In Dhaka, internet access on mobile devices has been suspended.
Reports of deaths and injuries have come from various regions, including Bogra, Pabna, and Rangpur.
In Dhaka, thousands gathered in a main square, with violent incidents reported across the city.
“The whole city has turned into a battleground,” an anonymous police officer told AFP. He described how a crowd of several thousand protesters set fire to cars and motorcycles outside a hospital.
Asif Mahmud, a prominent figure in the civil disobedience campaign, called for a march on Dhaka on Monday, stating, “The time has come for the final protest.”
Students Against Discrimination, a group leading the anti-government demonstrations, urged people to avoid paying taxes and utility bills and called for a shutdown of all factories and public transport.
In the past two weeks, around 10,000 people have reportedly been detained in a security forces crackdown, including opposition supporters and students.
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