Protests and violence erupt again in Bangladesh amid calls for government resignation

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Thousands of people protested peacefully in the Bangladeshi capital on Saturday, demanding justice for more than 200 students and others killed during protests last month, although similar incidents were reported in other parts of the country.

Protesters chanted anti-government slogans and demanded the prime minister’s resignation as the wave of protests spread beyond students to include people from all walks of life. Some pro-government groups also gathered in the city.

The country’s leading Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo reported that at least seven protesters were shot when pro-government party groups allegedly opened fire on them as they blocked a road in Cumilla, in eastern Bangladesh. The daily said at least 30 protesters were injured in the violence, but a local ruling party leader denied accusations that their supporters attacked the protesters.

Television stations reported that many people were injured in other parts of the country.

The student protests last month began with a demand to end a quota system for government jobs that they said was discriminatory, with 30% of such positions reserved for families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

The protests began peacefully but turned violent when students at the University of Dhaka clashed with police and activists from the student wing of the ruling Awami League party on July 15. Since then, more than 200 people have been killed and thousands injured.

The Supreme Court lowered the veterans’ quota to 5% on July 21, but protests have continued to spread amid outrage over the violence. Authorities have closed schools and universities nationwide, blocked internet access and imposed a curfew. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.

Internet service has been restored and banks and offices have reopened, but tensions remain high.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday offered to talk to student leaders but the coordinator declined in a Facebook post.

Nahid Islam, a leading protest coordinator, wrote: “You cannot ask for justice from a murderous government or sit in talks with it. The time for asking for forgiveness is over. When there was still time, the government carried out block raids to arrest and torture students.”

Hasina reiterated her promises to thoroughly investigate the deaths and punish those responsible for the violence. She said her door was open for talks and she was ready to sit down whenever protesters wanted.

The protests have posed a major challenge to Hasina, who returned to power in January for a fourth consecutive term in elections boycotted by her main opponents.

The students had earlier put forward a nine-point demand, including a public apology from Hasina and the release of all arrested and jailed students. However, on Saturday they announced that they had one demand — the resignation of Hasina and her administration. They also called for a “non-cooperation” movement from Sunday and urged people not to pay taxes or utility bills and keep factories and offices closed.

The secretary general of Hasina’s ruling party said on Saturday he was calling on his supporters to take part in demonstrations across the country on Sunday.

Hasina and other Cabinet ministers have earlier blamed the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the now-banned right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party and its student wing for invading the student protests and instigating violence. Both parties have denied the accusations.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said on Saturday he would continue to support the protesters.