Anti-government protesters in Bangladesh planned to march to the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, following a weekend of violence that left dozens dead. The military imposed an indefinite curfew, and authorities cut off mobile internet access in an attempt to quell the unrest.
The clashes in Dhaka on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 95 people, including 14 police officers, according to Prothom Alo, the country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper. Hundreds more were injured in the violence. The demonstrations, initially fueled by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, escalated into widespread violence after clashes with police and pro-government activists.
The escalating violence prompted protest and opposition leaders to call for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, widening the protests across the country. The military curfew went into effect on Sunday night, covering Dhaka and other divisional and district headquarters. Earlier, the government had imposed a curfew with some exceptions in the capital and other areas.
The government also declared a holiday from Monday to Wednesday, closing courts indefinitely. Mobile internet service was suspended, and access to social media platforms like Facebook and messaging apps, including WhatsApp, was blocked.
Prime Minister Hasina accused the protesters engaging in “sabotage” and destruction of being criminals rather than students and urged the people to deal with them harshly.
The ruling Awami League party, led by Hasina, alleged that the demand for her resignation was a ploy by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the now-banned Jamaat-e-Islami party to exploit the protests. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.
The unrest has led to the closure of schools and universities across the country, with authorities even imposing a shoot-on-sight curfew at one point. Over the weekend, protesters called for a “non-cooperation” effort, urging people to boycott paying taxes or utility bills and to avoid going to work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh.
Although offices, banks, and factories opened, commuters in Dhaka and other cities faced challenges reaching their workplaces.
The protests began last month when students demanded the abolition of a quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for the families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan in 1971. As the violence intensified, the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the veterans’ quota should be reduced to 5 per cent, with 93 per cent of jobs allocated based on merit. The remaining 2 per cent would be reserved for members of ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities. The government accepted the court’s decision, but protesters have continued demanding accountability for the violence, blaming the government’s use of force.
Hasina’s administration has blamed opposition parties and their student wings for instigating the violence, which included the torching or vandalization of several state-owned establishments. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary-general of the main opposition party, reiterated his call for the government to step down to end the chaos.
On Saturday, Hasina offered to engage in talks with student leaders, but a coordinator declined the offer, demanding her resignation instead. Hasina reiterated her pledge to investigate the deaths and punish those responsible for the violence. She expressed her willingness to meet with protesters whenever they wished.
The protests pose a significant challenge to Hasina, who has governed the country for over 15 years. She returned to power for a fourth consecutive term in January after an election boycotted by her main opponents.
