The violent clashes in Bangladesh have claimed the lives of at least 300 people. The government has imposed a curfew in Dhaka and other key regions. An internet blackout has also been enacted to quell the unrest.
Fresh protests roiled #Bangladesh on Saturday, just weeks after a deadly government crackdown, as demonstrators returned to the streets in what appeared to be the biggest numbers yet and escalated their demands to include #SheikhHasina’s resignation.https://t.co/GyXCMRTr7V
— Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) August 4, 2024
Protesters have announced plans for a “Long march to Dhaka” to voice their demands. An additional 94 people have been killed amid the continuing clashes. The military has taken control and imposed a curfew in critical areas to maintain order.
Such sad news from Bangladesh 🇧🇩
I wish all my friends and colleagues a return to peace and normality and a better future https://t.co/Jar0PBQT35
— Sophien Kamoun (@KamounLab) August 5, 2024
The government has declared a three-day holiday in an effort to pacify the situation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the rioters, labeling them as criminals. Barbed wire barriers have been erected near the Prime Minister’s office as a security measure.
32 dead in violent clashes as students begin non cooperation movement, call for Bangladesh PM Hasina to resignhttps://t.co/q8Nqn8OtO3
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) August 4, 2024
India has issued a travel advisory, urging its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Bangladesh.
Extraordinary scenes in #Bangladesh: protesters storm PM's residence; long-serving PM Sheikh Hasina is reported to have left the country. Close to 300 people are now reported to have died in clashes between govt & opposition supporters & security forces.https://t.co/n09DvBBmhz
— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) August 5, 2024
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, concerned about the impact of these developments on regional stability. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled Bangladesh after anti-government protests turned deadly.
Reports indicate that Hasina and her sister have been taken to safety by army helicopter. Though her exact whereabouts are unclear, it is believed she is heading to India. Large crowds of protesters stormed her official residence in Dhaka despite a curfew and an internet clampdown.
The violent clashes between police and protesters have brought the death toll to more than 300 in recent weeks.
Bangladesh imposes curfew amid unrest
This bloodshed is among the worst the South Asian country has witnessed since its independence in 1971.
The protests began as a student-led movement demanding the abolition of civil service job quotas. The Bangladesh Supreme Court responded by reducing the number of reserved jobs to five percent, fueling protests that soon escalated into demands for Hasina to resign after over two decades in power. As the situation worsened, widespread looting was reported in Dhaka.
Demonstrators reportedly damaged the residence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and took furniture from Hasina’s office. A statue of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was also damaged, and a memorial museum to him was set on fire. In Sylhet, the offices of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police were set on fire, and several councillors’ homes were attacked.
There are also reports of demonstrators climbing on top of armoured vehicles and damaging the cars of ministers. India has long been Hasina’s ally, and it is speculated that she is heading there for safety. During her tenure, she clamped down on anti-India militant groups, winning support from Delhi, and facilitated trade routes for India.
Bangladesh’s army chief Waker-uz-Zaman announced on national television that an interim government would be formed. He promised justice for the Bangladeshi people, echoing the protesters’ demands. It remains unclear who will lead the interim government.
The resignation and departure of Sheikh Hasina mark a historic moment for Bangladesh, with people jubilantly taking to the streets in celebration. Footage shows protesters looting the prime minister’s official residence and carrying away furniture. The situation remains fluid, with the interim government formation and future political developments closely watched by both domestic and international communities.
