At least 50 dead as fresh anti-government protests sweep Bangladesh, India issues travel advisory

Bangladesh is witnessing a fresh round of violence across various cities, including the capital Dhaka, which left at least 56 people, including 14 policemen, killed after students clashed with the police and ruling party members on Sunday.

The students are reportedly participating in a non-cooperation movement under the banner of Students Against Discrimination.

The Bangladesh government has declared an indefinite curfew starting from 6pm Sunday in Dhaka and other divisional cities, district towns and all city corporations, amid the fresh instances of violence which is sweeping across the country.

The government also declared a three-day general holiday from Monday to ensure public safety.

Last month, the country witnessed brutal clashes over the job quota issue, one of the deadliest witnessed by the nation since it was formed in 1971.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced it will participate in a long march to Dhaka on Monday, a day earlier than previously proposed by the group.

Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the movement, was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune: “In an urgent decision to review the situation, our ‘March to Dhaka’ program has been changed from August 6 to August 5. In other words, we are calling on students from all over the country to travel to Dhaka tomorrow (Monday).”

The protesters are demanding the resignation of PM Sheikh Hasina.

Termed as ‘non cooperation movement’, students and organisations allegedly backed by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party have been urging people to stop paying taxes and utility bills.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on the government to step down amid the mass upsurge, reported Dhaka Tribune.

“BNP declares full solidarity with the one-point declaration raised by the anti-discrimination student movement and the masses,” he said.

Meanwhile, like the previous protest, Bangladeshi telecommunication operators have shut down mobile internet in the country.

The step was reportedly taken on the instruction of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who returned to power for another term this year, described those behind the sabotage in the name of protest as terrorists.

“I appeal to the countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a firm hand,” she said in a meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs at Ganabhaban on Sunday, according to sources from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), reported Dhaka Tribune.

Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving PM of the country, earlier blamed the opposition for capitalising on the situation and carrying out deadly attacks in the country.

Stipulating that 93 percent of recruitments will be on merit now, Bangladesh Supreme Court last month scrapped most of the quotas in government jobs that had led to massive protests in July.

India, meanwhile, asked citizens to remain alert.

Assistant High Commission of India in Sylhet posted on X: ” All Indian nationals including students living in the jurisdiction of Assistant High Commission of India , Sylhet are requested to be in touch with this office & are advised to remain alert.”