The simmering tension in Bangladesh boiled over on the streets of numerous cities, with the capital, Dhaka, at the epicenter of the pandemonium. Student protesters embittered and determined, clashed head-on with police forces and ruling party supporters. Television footage captured scenes of chaos as police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the swelling ranks of demonstrators, estimated in the tens of thousands. Their collective voice resounded: “Hasina, Go Back”.
In a swift response to the deteriorating situation, authorities declared an indefinite nationwide curfew, set to commence at 6 PM on August 4.
Indian Government Issues Travel Warning
Echoing the gravity of the circumstances, the Indian government sternly advised Indian nationals to avoid travel to Bangladesh until the situation stabilises. This advisory urges citizens already in Bangladesh to remain vigilant, restrict their movements, and maintain direct lines of communication with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka via designated emergency contacts: +8801958383679, +8801958383680, and +8801937400591
Advisory for Bangladesh:https://t.co/mKs1auhnlK pic.twitter.com/m5c5Y0Bn8b
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2024
Crowds of thousands, brandishing sticks as makeshift weapons, poured into Dhaka’s emblematic Shahbagh Square on Sunday, setting off a wave of unrest that has rapidly engulfed the nation. Skirmishes and violent encounters spilled over the heart of the city into its highways and far-flung towns, marking a significant shift from the capital-centric unrest in the past few weeks.
The turmoil escalated as demonstrators, comprising students and factions under the aegis of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), initiated a campaign of “non-cooperation.” Rallying cries encouraged the populace to ignore tax payments and utility bills and to abstain from work on Sunday, a regular working day in Bangladesh. Reacting to the earlier suppression of protests, activists were directed to arm themselves with bamboo sticks, signaling a more assertive phase in their opposition.
Shahbagh Square, typically resounding with political expression, assumed a new level of tension as protesters descended upon key institutions, including the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University — a significant public healthcare facility. In the city’s Uttara district, the air crackled with the sound of crude bomb detonations and sporadic gunfire, as per eyewitness accounts. In a grim spectacle, a series of vehicles were set ablaze.
Amidst the turmoil, the government responded by curtailing high-speed internet availability, a strategic measure aimed to hamper the organizing efforts of protesters. Mobile operators confirmed the suspension of 4G services upon receipt of a government directive, as confirmed by Bangladeshi daily newspaper The Daily Star. Online communication platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp experienced outages, impacting even broadband connections.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, addressing the burgeoning crisis, identified the BNP and the now-proscribed right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party, alongside their student factions, as orchestrators inciting violence. In the aftermath of a national security meeting, Hasina labeled the protesters as “terrorists intent on destabilising the nation” rather than students, urging the “countrymen to act decisively against these terrorists.”
Addressing the nation’s outrage, Hasina outlined the release of peaceful demonstrators who haven’t been embroiled in acts of vandalism or murder, as reiterated by the ruling party. The decision resonates loud and clear, echoing the core demand set by protesting students who have long sought their peers’ freedom amidst widespread civil unrest. Confronted with allegations of government brutality and the suppression of rights, the release of jailed protesters aims to rebuild trust and open paths for dialogue.
Bangladesh Army, standing as a testament to the country’s military resilience, echoed public sentiments without overtly aligning with either side. Waker-uz-Zaman, the Army Chief, upheld the institution’s commitment to the people, affirming their role as “a symbol of the people’s trust.” Assuring ongoing support for the welfare of Bangladesh and its populace, the declaration resonates with citizens in the throes of unrest.
An undercurrent of solidarity from former military personnel adds depth to the civilian movement. Ex-Army Chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan symbolically changed his Facebook profile picture to red, a silent gesture of support for the student movement. This alliance widens the spectrum of the protest’s support base, intertwining civilian voices with those from past military ranks.
The ignition point behind the escalating demonstrations traces back to a quota system allocating 30 per cent of government jobs to descendants of participants in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence. Though the Supreme Court reduced the controversial quota to a more modest 5 per cent, with an additional 3 per cent reserved for veterans’ kin, discontent persisted. Calls for accountability for excessive force by law enforcement has kept the agitation alive, overshadowed by instances of violence across the country.
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