Tensions rise in Bangladesh as students demand PM step down

DHAKA: In defiance of a nationwide curfew, students in Bangladesh have announced to carry out a protest march towards Dhaka, the country’s capital, on Monday to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down.

The call has been made a day after historical deadly clashes that killed around 100 people in Bangladesh.

The South Asian country has been overwhelmed by demonstrations and violence that commenced in July after groups of students demanded revoking the controversial quota system in government jobs. The development escalated into a campaign to seek the sacking of Hasina, who came into power for straight fourth time in January in an election boycotted by the opposition.

A wave of violence across the country of 170 million people claimed lives of at least 91 people and left hundreds injured on Sunday as police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators.

Following which, the government has imposed countrywide curfew on Sunday, while the railways department has suspended train service and the country's large garments industry has shut down.

Sunday's death toll, which included at least 13 policemen, was the highest for a single day from any protests in Bangladesh's recent history, surpassing the 67 deaths reported on July 19 when students took to the streets against the quotas.

The government declared the indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6pm local time (1200 GMT) on Sunday and also announced a three-day general holiday starting from Monday.

"The government has killed many students. The time has come for the final answer," protest coordinator Asif Mahmud said in a statement on Facebook late on Sunday. "Everyone will come to Dhaka especially from the surrounding districts. Come to Dhaka and take a position on the streets."

The Bangladesh army urged everyone to obey the curfew rules.

"The Bangladesh army will perform its promised duty in line with the Bangladesh constitution and existing laws of the country," it said in a statement late on Sunday.

"In this regard the people are requested to abide by the curfew as well as give full cooperation to this end," it said, adding that the curfew was imposed to ensure the security of people's lives, properties and important state establishments.

Over the weekend, there have been attacks, vandalism and arson targeting government buildings, offices of the ruling Awami League party, police stations and houses of public representatives, local media reported. Violence was reported in 39 of the country's 64 districts.

Army's role comes into focus

Bangladesh Railway said it had suspended all services indefinitely due to the escalating violence.

Garment factories in the country, which supply apparel to some of the top brands in the world, have also been closed indefinitely.

"In view of the prevailing situation, owners have decided to close all garment factories across the country, considering the overall safety of the workers," the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said.

The unrest, which has prompted the government to shut down internet services, is Hasina's biggest test in her 20-year regime after she won a fourth straight term in elections that were boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Critics of Hasina, along with human rights groups, have accused her government of using excessive force against protesters, a charge she and her ministers deny.

For the second time during the recent protests, the government has shut down high-speed internet services, mobile operators said. Social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp were not available, even via broadband connections.

Last month, at least 150 people were killed and thousands injured in violence touched off by student groups protesting against quotas for government jobs.

The protests paused after the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas, but students returned to the streets in sporadic protests last week, demanding justice for the families of those killed and Hasina's resignation.

Hasina has said that "those who are carrying out violence are not students but terrorists who are out to destabilise the nation".

The role of the country's army in tackling the violence has come into focus with a group of retired military officers urging Hasina to withdraw troops from the streets and undertake "political initiatives" to resolve the crisis.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has said the army will always be there for the people's interests and for any needs of the state. He is due to brief the media on Monday.