Severe riots in Bangladesh, at least 91 people killed

The death toll, including at least 13 police officers, was the highest in a single day of any protest in Bangladesh's recent history, surpassing the 67 deaths reported on July 19 when students took to the streets demanding the abolition of quotas for state jobs.

Indefinite curfew

The Bangladesh government has declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, the biggest test for Ms. Hasina in her 20 years in power, especially after she won a fourth consecutive term in an election contested by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Protests turn into riots in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Protesters blocked major highways on Sunday to pressure Hasina's government to resign, sparking riots across the country.

"Those who carried out the violence were not students but terrorists who wanted to destabilize the country," Hasina said after a meeting of the national security council, attended by the commanders of the army, navy, air force, police and other agencies.

"I call on my compatriots to firmly suppress these terrorists," she added.

Police stations and ruling party offices were targeted as violence spread across the country of 170 million people. Police said 13 police officers were beaten to death in Sirajganj district. Nine others were also killed in the district, when the homes of two lawmakers were burned.

Rioters burned down streets and attacked government buildings. Photo: Reuters

Internet and social media are disabled

Police and witnesses said at least 11 people, including two students and a ruling party leader, were killed and dozens injured in violent clashes in several parts of the capital Dhaka.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has urged its citizens not to travel to Bangladesh until further notice.

For the second time in recent protests, authorities have shut down high-speed internet services. Social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp are unavailable, even over broadband connections.

“Units are requested to turn off all 4G services until further notice, only 2G services are effective,” according to a document issued by the Bangladesh National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre.

Last month, at least 150 people were killed and thousands injured in violence sparked by Bangladeshi student groups protesting state job quotas.

The protests stopped after Bangladesh's Supreme Court abolished most of the quotas, but students returned to the streets in sporadic demonstrations last week, demanding justice for the families of those killed.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bao-loan-nghiem-trong-o-bangladesh-it-nhat-91-nguoi-thiet-mang-post306330.html