One-point demand: 96 killed in 21 districts in a day of unprecedented violence across Bangladesh

Staff Correspondent: At least 96 people were killed and over 1000 injured in clashes between protesters, who have been joined by other groups over the course of the movement, on one side and police and ruling party activist on the other, one day after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that fought for quota reforms in government jobs moved to a new phase in their movement: a one-point demand calling for the resignation of the government, in light of the unprecedented killings of protesters in July by government forces, including law enforcers and the ruling party’s student front.

According to reports reaching the UNB news desk throughout Sunday, nine people died each in Dhaka and Feni, six each in Sylhet and Narsingdi district, twenty three in Sirajganj, eight in Laxmipur, five in Bogura, four in Rangpur districts, three each in Magura, Pabna, Cumilla, Kishoreganj and Munshiganj districts, two each in Joypurhat and Sherpur district, while one each in Gazipur, Cox’s Bazar, Bhola, Habiganj, Savar, Keraniganj and Barishal.

Besides, over 1000 people suffered injuries, including with bullets in clashes and attacks across the country.

In Dhaka, at least seven people died and over 250 were injured in clashes.

Three of the deceased were identified as Tawhidul, 22, Obaidullah Siddique, 23, student of Habibullah Bahar College, Ramijuddon Habib Rup, student of Daffodil University.

Their bodies were kept at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, reports our reporter from the hospital.

Besides, a group of miscreants carried out an attack on the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court in the morning.

In Narsingdi, six Awami League leaders and activists were beaten to death by the protesters when they opened fire on the protesters in Madhabdi upazila.

During the clash, a number of vehicles, Awami league offices, police stations and other establishments were vandalised and set on fire in different parts of the country, including Chapainawabganj and Barishal.

Students and general people started demonstrations in the morning, extending solidarity to student platform Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s one-point demand for the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

The platform also announced non-cooperation movement from a massive rally on Saturday, resulting in poor traffic on the roads since morning. Shopping malls and shops also remained closed.

The situation turned violent when activists of ruling Awami league and its affiliates took to the streets to counter the protesters, said witnesses, our correspondents and photographers from the spots.

Police also fired tear shells, sound grenades to disperse the protesters in many places, resulting in violent clashes that left many including students dead and injured.

Vandalism, arson attacks were reported from various parts of the country including Dhaka, Chattogram, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Khulna, Kushtia.

Amid escalating violence, the government imposed a curfew for an indefinite period from 6pm on Sunday in the capital and some other parts of the country.

Curfew was slapped in Dhaka Metropolitan area and all divisional headquarters, city corporations, municipalities, industrial areas, district and upazila headquarters.

Besides, the government also announced a three-day general holiday for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday amid the escalation of the widespread violence across the country.

The High Court (HC) today dismissed the writ petition seeking order not to shoot protesters but gave some observations in this regard.

The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon passed the order after hearing the petition.

The court in its observation said all citizens have the right to participate in peaceful assemblies and emphasised that the police must follow legal directives.

The HC also directed the police to follow the Police Regulations of Bengal (PRB) strictly.