Bangladesh protests: 97 dead in fresh student-led clashes, India issues advisory

In a surge of renewed anti-government protests, at least 97 people, including 14 policemen, were killed on Sunday, with hundreds more injured over the past three days in Bangladesh. The demonstrations have shaken the country, with violence intensifying as citizens voice their dissatisfaction with Sheikh Hasina's government.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sunday, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. The chants of "down with the autocrat" echoed across various parts of the nation as demonstrators called for a change in leadership.

Police and student clashes

The protests led to violent clashes between police and students. Security forces resorted to using tear gas and stun grenades in an effort to control the crowds. This recent wave of protests mirrors the unrest from last month, where several individuals were killed and injured. The situation escalated further when students set fire to the state broadcaster’s building, just a day after Hasina appeared on the network, in an attempt to quell the rising tensions.

Triggering factors and student demands

The protests were sparked last month following a high court ruling that reinstated a quota system for government jobs. This system includes a 30% reservation for families of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, overturning a 2018 decision by Hasina's government to scrap it. In response, the Supreme Court suspended the high court's order, setting a date of August 7 to hear the government's challenge.

Escalation of demands

The demonstrations intensified when Prime Minister Hasina refused to meet the students' demands, citing the ongoing court proceedings. The protesting students are demanding the abolition of the quota system, which they argue disproportionately allocates more than half of government jobs to specific groups, including children of 1971 liberation war veterans.

The situation remains tense as the country awaits the Supreme Court's decision, with many fearing further escalation of violence.