Nationwide protests escalate as demonstrators demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation
Bangladesh is on edge as anti-government protesters plan a massive march to Dhaka following a violent weekend that saw dozens of people killed and hundreds injured. The escalating crisis has prompted the military to impose an indefinite curfew and cut mobile internet access in an effort to control the unrest.
Protests initially started with students demanding the end of a quota system in government jobs, which reserved 30% of positions for the families of 1971 war veterans. However, the situation rapidly deteriorated into widespread violence. According to Prothom Alo, at least 95 people, including 14 police officers, were killed in the capital on Sunday, with more than 200 dead nationwide since the clashes began. This violence has sparked wider calls for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.
In response to the unrest, the military-imposed curfew covers Dhaka and other major cities. The government has declared a holiday from Monday to Wednesday, with courts closed indefinitely. Additionally, mobile internet services have been suspended, and social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are inaccessible.
Prime Minister Hasina condemned the protesters, labeling those involved in the violence as criminals rather than students. She urged the public to deal with them firmly. The ruling Awami League party accused the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the banned Jamaat-e-Islami party of hijacking the protests to further their own agendas.
Authorities have arrested over 11,000 people in recent weeks. Schools and universities have shut down, and at one point, a shoot-on-sight curfew was enforced. Despite the crackdown, protests continue, with demonstrators calling for non-cooperation, urging citizens to withhold taxes and utility payments and to abstain from work.
The protests began last month with students demanding an end to the quota system. In response, the Supreme Court ruled to reduce the veterans’ quota to 5%, with 93% of jobs to be allocated based on merit, and 2% set aside for ethnic minorities, transgender, and disabled people. Although the government accepted this decision, protesters are still demanding accountability for the violence and the government’s forceful response.
The opposition parties continue to call for Hasina’s resignation to end the chaos. Despite Prime Minister Hasina’s offer to negotiate with student leaders, they have steadfastly demanded her resignation. Hasina has pledged to investigate the violence and hold those responsible accountable.
This wave of protests poses a significant challenge to Prime Minister Hasina, who has been in power for over 15 years. Her latest term, which began in January, followed an election boycotted by her main opponents. The current crisis highlights the growing discontent with her administration and raises questions about the future stability of Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh braces for the planned march to Dhaka, the government’s next steps will be crucial in either defusing or further inflaming the situation. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the country can navigate through this period of intense unrest without further bloodshed.
