By The Bangladesh government has taken drastic measures in response to escalating protests, imposing an indefinite nationwide curfew and deploying the military to the streets of Dhaka on Sunday. This action comes as thousands of protesters, led by student groups, launched a civil disobedience campaign demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The latest wave of demonstrations follows a deadly crackdown on protests in July, which began with students calling for an end to a quota system for government jobs but quickly escalated into violent confrontations. Those earlier protests resulted in more than 200 deaths, a week-long communications blackout, and a curfew.
As demonstrators returned to the streets in what appeared to be even larger numbers, Bangladesh’s Interior Ministry announced that an indefinite nationwide curfew would begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Simultaneously, internet services were once again shut down, echoing the tactics used during the previous unrest.
The situation has rapidly deteriorated, with Prothom Alo, the country’s leading Bengali-language newspaper, reporting that more than 50 people have been killed and scores injured in the new round of clashes. Security forces have employed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters.
Students Against Discrimination, one of the primary groups behind the initial protests, has called for nationwide mobilization. “The time has come to make the final signature of this student citizen uprising. Come to Dhaka to be a part of history,” declared Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the group, in a statement issued after the curfew announcement.
While the Supreme Court eventually scrapped most of the quota system to open civil service positions based on merit, the government’s heavy-handed response to the demonstrations and the arrest of thousands have transformed the student-led protests into a broader public movement. In recent days, more groups have joined the cause, including teachers and television personalities.
Political analyst Salimullah Khan described the current situation as a “massive popular uprising” that enjoys support from the entire nation, except for a few beneficiaries of the regime. He warned that continued repressive measures would only lead to more loss of life.
The protests have become a significant challenge for Prime Minister Hasina, who returned to power for a fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by her main opponents, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP has expressed its support for the students’ demands, with party official Mohammed Nawshad Zamir stating their commitment to continue street demonstrations until Hasina’s “illegitimate regime” is ousted.
In response, the ruling Awami League has accused the student-led movement of being “politicized.” Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, an Awami League parliamentarian, claimed the protests are “a conspiracy to destroy the country” while asserting that law enforcement is showing “maximum tolerance” towards the demonstrators.
However, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director at Transparency International Bangladesh, characterized the government’s efforts to suppress the civil movement as unprecedented in scale, involving “random and disproportionate use of force by law-enforcing agencies.” He expressed concern about the lack of a clear resolution to the crisis, noting that authorities had underestimated the power of the student movement and overestimated their own invincibility.
As the situation continues to unfold, the eyes of the international community are likely to turn toward Bangladesh. The government’s response to these protests and its ability to address the underlying grievances of its citizens will be crucial in determining the country’s path forward and its standing on the global stage.
Source: arabnews.com
