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Students in Bangladesh Plan March Amidst Nationwide Turmoil

DHAKA (Reuters) – Students in Bangladesh are organizing a march to the capital, Dhaka, scheduled for Monday, despite a nationwide curfew imposed after violent clashes resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 individuals. This escalation comes as the protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Reports indicate that armored personnel carriers and military forces patrolled the capital’s streets as civilian movement was significantly restricted, with only a handful of motorcycles and three-wheeled taxis observed.

On Sunday, violent outbreaks across Bangladesh resulted in at least 91 fatalities and numerous injuries as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse large crowds of demonstrators. Following the unrest, officials enacted a nationwide curfew beginning Sunday evening, halting railway services and closing the nation’s vital garment manufacturing sector.

The protests, which began last month over student grievances regarding a contentious quota system for government jobs, have escalated into calls for Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation. Hasina secured a fourth consecutive term in office this past January in an election largely boycotted by opposition parties.

Sunday’s death toll marks one of the highest recorded in a single day during recent protests in Bangladesh, surpassing prior violent incidents, including a July 19 protest that resulted in 67 deaths related to the same quota issues.

Since the start of the protests, reports indicate that over 300 individuals have lost their lives, with the French news agency AFP highlighting the severe impact of the ongoing unrest.

The government declared a nationwide curfew, commencing at 6 p.m. on Sunday, along with a three-day general holiday effective Monday. Protest leaders are urging widespread mobilization, with coordinator Asif Mahmud encouraging supporters from surrounding areas to converge in Dhaka, declaring, “The time has come for the final answer.”

Another student activist, M. Zubair, expressed determination to march, stating, “Nobody can stop us from marching today.” He urged soldiers to refrain from supporting the government, emphasizing the need for solidarity with the public.

In a response to the unrest, the Bangladesh Army has called for compliance with curfew regulations, stressing that the enforcement of the curfew is vital for the safety of citizens and state property.

Widespread Violence and Damage

The violent weekend saw extensive attacks, vandalism, and arson directed at government institutions, ruling party offices, police stations, and residences of public officials, with incidents reported in 39 of the country’s 64 districts.

Bangladesh Railway has suspended all operations indefinitely due to the ongoing violence. Additionally, garment factories, which are crucial to the national economy, have also ceased operations for the foreseeable future, as confirmed by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

The military’s role in managing the crisis has become a focal point of discussion. A group of retired officers has called for the withdrawal of troops from urban areas and urged the government to pursue political solutions.

The Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has reiterated the military’s commitment to serving the interests of the Bangladeshi people but was scheduled to deliver a press briefing later Monday, which was subsequently canceled.

Critics of the Hasina administration, along with various human rights organizations, have accused the government of employing excessive force to suppress protests, allegations that officials have categorically denied.

In an effort to control the situation, the government has reinstated restrictions on high-speed internet services and access to social media platforms, causing major disruptions in communications and news dissemination.

Despite the initial pause in protests following a Supreme Court ruling that curtailed the quota system, student groups have resumed their demonstrations, driven by demands for accountability for the violence and calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Prime Minister Hasina has characterized the violence as the actions of “terrorists aiming to destabilize the nation,” attempting to distance her administration from the claims of brutality against demonstrators.

Tarique Rahman, the exiled leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, described the ongoing protests as a severe conflict between oppressive governance and democratic principles, calling for international support for justice and truth amidst the escalating crisis.

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