New Violence Kills Scores in Bangladesh, Students Seek Hasina’s Resignation

Sudan Events – Agencies 

At least 48 people have been killed while hundreds of others injured across Bangladesh as students took to the streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, local media reports.

Authorities on Sunday declared a three-day public holiday as people were killed in clashes between protesters on one side and police and governing Awami League party supporters on the other side.

People were killed in more than 13 districts as ruling party armed groups swooped on protesters and opened fire; the report added.

Meanwhile, at least 42 were rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital with bullet wounds while at least 20 injured people took treatment at Dhak The protests began last month as students demanded an end to a quota system that reserved 30 percent of government jobs for the families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan in 1971.

However, the protests escalated into violence that left more than 200 dead. Demonstrators blame the violence on the government’s use of excessive force.

In response, authorities imposed a curfew on July 20 amid the first round of the student protest.

a Medical College Hospital, it said.

At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.

Protesters called for “non-cooperation”, urging people not to pay taxes and utility bills and not show up for work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh.

Offices, banks and factories opened, but commuters in Dhaka and other cities faced challenges getting to work.

As violence crested, the country’s Supreme Court scaled back the quota system to five percent of jobs, with three percent for relatives of veterans.

However, protests have continued and demand accountability for violence from earlier protests.