Anti-government protests turn deadly in Bangladesh

At least 25 people have been killed in Bangladesh as clashes erupted between police and anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The latest tension comes as student leaders have announced a campaign to disobey the government.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in many parts of Bangladesh. About 200 people were injured.

In the capital, Dhaka, internet access for mobile devices has been suspended, with some providers telling local media that they have received orders from the government.

An official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told BBC Bengali that 4G internet service in the Dhaka area has stopped for now, but broadband services will continue.

Without 4G and 3G people cannot communicate using the internet on their mobile devices. The source did not say when internet services would return to normal.

Bangladeshi media and AFP reported that deaths and injuries were reported across the country, including in the northern districts of Bogra, Pabna and Rangpur.

A curfew has been announced from 18:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Sunday. According to local media reports, the curfew will be in place forever.

Thousands of people gathered in the main square in the capital and there were incidents of violence in other parts of the city.

Elsewhere, supporters of the ruling Awami League are said to be clashing with anti-government protesters.

“The whole city has become a battlefield,” a police officer, who asked not to be named, told AFP news agency. He said a crowd of thousands of protesters burned cars and motorbikes outside the hospital.

The organization that encourages protests against the government, Students Against Discrimination, has asked the prime minister to step down.

The group has announced a nationwide boycott from Sunday, urging citizens not to pay taxes or any debts. The students also called for the closure of all industries and public transport.

The protest that started with the demand to end the job quotas of civil servants last month has now turned into a campaign against the government.

More than 200 people were killed in the July violence, most of them shot by the police.

About 10,000 people have reportedly been arrested in a major security operation in the past two weeks. Those arrested include supporters of opposition parties and students.

The Awami League also held a march across the country on Sunday.

The next few days are considered crucial for both camps.

“Sheikh Hasina must not only resign, she must be tried for murder, robbery and corruption,” Nahid Islam, one of the leaders of the student movement, told thousands of people at a rally in Dhaka on Saturday.

The protests pose a major challenge to Ms. Hasina, who was elected for a fourth consecutive term in the January elections, boycotting the opposition party.

Students took to the streets last month over the denial of many public services to relatives of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh-Pakistan independence war.

Most of the quota has now been rolled back by the government following the government’s decision, but the students continued to protest demanding justice for the dead and injured. Now they want Ms. Hasina to step down.

Ms Hasina’s supporters rejected her resignation.

Earlier, Ms. Hasina held unconditional talks with the student leaders, and said she wanted the violence to end.

“I want to stay with the students of this movement who are agitating and listen to them. I don’t want a conflict,” he said.

But the protesting students rejected his request.

Ms. Hasina called on the military last month to restore peace after police stations and government buildings were torched during protests.

Bangladesh army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, held a meeting with junior officers in Dhaka to assess the security situation.

“Bangladesh Army has always represented the people and will continue to do so for the benefit of the people and any need of the state,” General Zaman said, according to a release from the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate.

Protests have resumed in several cities and the government is struggling to control the growing anger in the way it initially responded to the protests.

Bangladeshi media said most of those killed in last month’s protests were shot dead by the police. Thousands were injured.

The government says the police opened fire only in self-defense and to protect government property.