Bangladesh’s anti-government protests are turning deadly

At least 14 people have been killed in Bangladesh in clashes between police and anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The latest wave of tensions came after student leaders announced a campaign of civil disobedience against the government.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in several parts of Bangladesh. Dozens of people were injured across the country.

In the capital, Dhaka, mobile internet access has been suspended. Some providers told local media they had received orders from the government.

A representative of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told BBC Bengali that 4G internet access has been temporarily suspended in Dhaka city, but broadband services will continue to be available.

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.

The curfew was announced from 6:00 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT) on Sunday. Local media reported that the curfew would remain in effect indefinitely.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital’s main square, and acts of violence also occurred in other parts of the city.

In some places, supporters of the ruling Awami League are said to have clashed with anti-government protesters.

“The whole city has turned into a battlefield,” a police officer, who asked not to be named, told the AFP news agency. He said a crowd of several thousand protesters had set cars and motorbikes on fire outside the hospital.

Students Against Discrimination, the organisation behind the anti-government demonstrations, has called on the prime minister to resign.

The group announced a nationwide disobedience movement starting Sunday, calling on citizens not to pay taxes or utility bills. The students also called for the closure of all factories and public transport.

The protest, which began last month with a demand for the abolition of quotas for civil service positions, has now escalated into a broader anti-government movement.

In July, more than 200 people died in riots, many of them shot by police.

Some 10,000 people have been detained in a major security crackdown over the past two weeks. Those arrested included opposition supporters and students.

Ms Hasina’s Awami League party is also organising marches across the country on Sunday.

The next few days are considered crucial for both camps.

“Sheikh Hasina should not only resign, she should be tried for killings, looting and corruption,” Nahid Islam, a leader of the student movement, told thousands at a rally in Dhaka on Saturday.

The protests pose a serious challenge to Ms Hasina, who was elected to a fourth consecutive term in January elections boycotted by the main opposition.

Last month, students took to the streets demanding that many civil service positions be reserved for relatives of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh-Pakistan independence war.

Most of the amount has now been reduced by the government following the ruling, but students continue to protest, demanding justice for those killed and injured. They now want Ms Hasina to resign.

Ms Hasina’s supporters have ruled out her resignation.

Earlier, Ms Hasina had offered unconditional dialogue with student leaders, saying she wanted an end to the violence.

“I want to sit down with the agitating students of the movement and listen to them. I don’t want any conflict,” she said.

However, protesting students rejected her offer.

Last month, Ms Hasina called in the military to restore order after several police stations and government buildings were set on fire during protests.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman met with junior officers in Dhaka to assess the security situation.

“The Bangladesh Army has always stood by the people and will continue to do so in the interest of the people and in every need of the state,” Gen. Zaman said, according to a statement by the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate.

Protests have resumed in several cities as the government grapples with a growing wave of anger over its initial response to the demonstrations.

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

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