The ongoing unrest in Bangladesh has reached a critical point, with the death toll rising to at least 300. On Sunday alone, 94 people were killed in the deadliest day of anti-government demonstrations in recent weeks, according to reports from police, officials, and hospital sources. As the protests continue, a heavy presence of soldiers and police is evident in the capital, Dhaka, with key routes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office barricaded.
The protests, initially sparked by discontent over civil service job quotas, have evolved into a broader movement demanding Hasina’s resignation. The unrest, described as some of the most severe in Hasina’s 15-year tenure, has disrupted daily life, including restricted mobile internet access, closed offices, and the shutdown of vital garment factories.
On Sunday, violent clashes occurred between large groups of protesters and government supporters, armed with sticks and knives, while security forces responded with rifles. In Dhaka, authorities enforced a curfew using barbed wire. “We are calling on students and the public across the country to march towards Dhaka,” said Asif Mahmud, a prominent leader in the civil disobedience movement. “The time has come for the final protest.”
The violence on Sunday was particularly severe, with 94 fatalities, including 14 police officers killed in Enayetpur, where protesters stormed a police station. The total number of deaths since the protests began in early July has now reached at least 300. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk has called for an end to the violence, stating, “The shocking violence in Bangladesh must stop.”
Ali Riaz, a professor of politics and expert on Bangladesh, expressed serious concern over the situation. He noted that Hasina appears resolute in her stance, describing the situation as “an unprecedented popular uprising” and highlighting the harsh response from state actors and regime loyalists. Social media footage has shown protesters in Dhaka vandalizing a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and the nation’s independence leader, with hammers.
