Protests Return in Bangladesh: At Least 57 Dead in The Last Hours
An unidentified person sets fire to a motorcycle in the Shahbagh area during clashes between protesters and Awami League members. Photo: EFE/EPA/MONIRUL ALAM
August 4, 2024 Hour: 1:04 pm
As a result of the continuing clashes between students demanding the resignation of the Government and supporters of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, the government has imposed an indefinite curfew in the capital and other cities that will begin today at 18:00 GTM.
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Demonstrations began in early July, when thousands of students called for the end of the reserved places in public employment offers for descendants of freedom fighters in the war of independence 1971.
At least 14 police officers were killed, according to the spokesman of the armed forces, Kamrul Ahsan, adding that 300 officers were wounded.
The highest number of deaths has been recorded in the eastern district of Feni, in the south-east of the country, where five people lost their lives, according to the superintendent of Sadar hospital, Abul Khair Miazi.
Another of the districts with the highest number of fatalities was Sirajganj. Five people died in the region, according to the head of health services Mohammad Jahangir Alam, to which are added thirteen members of the security forces at a police station, said in a statement the spokesman of the Police headquarters, Enamul Haque.
“None of the perpetrators of violence are students, they are terrorists”, said Hasina during a meeting between ministers and the main security forces of the Asian country at its official residence, according to its spokesman Sarwer-E-Alam Sarker.
In the face of escalating violence, the Ministry of the Interior reimposed a curfew at dusk in all cities of the country, as well as a blockade of telecommunications networks. The Government also ordered the closure of all government offices and courts within three days.
Non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International have denounced the excessive repression by the security forces and with the help of supporters of the Awami League, as well as an arrest campaign that has resulted in the detention of some 10,000 people.
Autor: ACJ
Fuente: EFE // Al Jazeera