Fresh violence in Bangladesh has left dozens dead and hundreds injured as internet services are shut down and a nationwide curfew is imposed.
Almost 100 people were reportedly killed on Sunday as student protesters calling for the prime minister’s resignation clashed with police and ruling party activists.
The country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, said at least 95 people had died in the clashes.
The interior ministry has imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew to quell the violence, which came into force at 6pm local time (12pm GMT).
Internet services were also shut down, while social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp were unavailable.
A demonstrator runs next to a vandalised police box. Pic: Reuters
The latest unrest comes after at least 200 people were killed and thousands injured when student protests last month, triggered by a quota system that awarded 30% of government jobs to relatives of veterans, turned violent.
At least 10,000 others were arrested.
The Supreme Court has now scaled back the quota system.
However, students have returned to the streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as justice for those killed.
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Demonstrators and human rights groups have accused the government of an excessive use of force, something the prime minister and her ministers deny.
Sunday’s violence saw protesters target a major public hospital in the capital Dhaka, torching several vehicles.
In another area of the city, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked a major road. According to witnesses, some crude bombs were detonated and gunshots were heard.
Student protesters have launched a non-cooperation programme to push for the government’s resignation. They are calling on people not to pay taxes and utility bills and urged people to stay off work on Sunday – a working day in Bangladesh.
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Ms Hasina offered to talk with student leaders on Saturday, but a co-ordinator refused, replying with a one-point demand for her resignation.
She has pledged to thoroughly investigate the deaths and punish those responsible for the violence
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“Those who are protesting on the streets right now are not students, but terrorists who are out to destabilise the nation,” Hasina said after a national security panel meeting.
“I appeal to our countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a strong hand.”
Ms Hasina has ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, winning a fourth straight term in January in elections which were boycotted by her main opponents.
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