On August 3, 2024, students in Dhaka protested to demand justice for those arrested and killed in recent nationwide violence over job quotas, leading to at least 43 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew and declared a three-day general holiday while shutting down internet services.
The unrest, ignited by Hasina’s fourth consecutive term win in January, saw major highways blocked and widespread violence. Critics and human rights groups accused the government of using excessive force, charges denied by Hasina and her ministers. Hasina labeled the protesters as terrorists and urged the nation to counter them sternly.
Violent clashes in Dhaka, Munsiganj, Pabna, and Bogura resulted in numerous casualties. In Munsiganj, two construction workers were killed, while Dhaka witnessed an attack on a medical college hospital. To stifle the protests, the government ordered telecoms to shut down 4G services, affecting internet connectivity nationwide.
The unrest follows a wave of deadly protests earlier this year about government job quotas, which subsided after the Supreme Court scrapped most of the quotas. However, student demands for justice for the families of those killed sparked new demonstrations. An expert suggested that Hasina might face significant challenges in quelling the dissent and called for the formation of a national government to promote unity.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/04/at-least-43-killed-as-clashes-rock-bangladesh-curfew-imposed.html
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