2024-07-23 02:48:11
Bangladesh police fired live bullets at protesters who defied a curfew in the capital Dhaka on Saturday, as troops deployed in large numbers across the country to contain ongoing anti-government protests.
At least one person was injured as thousands of protesters gathered in the capital’s Rampura residential area, defying a government-imposed curfew that came into effect at midnight last night to try to contain the unrest.
While the US embassy in Dhaka spoke yesterday of “hundreds and perhaps thousands injured,” the spokesman for the capital’s police, Farooq Hussain, reported that at least 300 police officers were injured during the clashes that took place yesterday with demonstrators in several locations in Dhaka.
“At least 150 police officers were taken to hospital and 150 others received first aid,” the spokesman said, adding that security forces had clashed with “hundreds of thousands” of protesters in clashes that left at least 105 dead.
The army was deployed in force in Bangladesh cities today at the request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the police failed to control the unrest.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said army personnel would be deployed in the capital Dhaka and other areas.
The press attaché of the Prime Minister’s Office, Naeemul Islam Khan, said that the government has decided to impose a curfew and deploy the army to assist the civil authorities.
Dhaka’s streets were almost empty early Saturday, with soldiers and armoured vehicles patrolling the vast capital of 20 million people.
A suspension of internet and text messaging services that began on Thursday has cut off Bangladesh from the world as police crack down on protests that have continued despite a ban on public gatherings.
The unrest across the country initially erupted over student anger over a new government job quota system that included a 30% quota for family members of fighters who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
Over the past few days, police have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters during nationwide unrest, where demonstrators have clashed with security forces, thrown bricks and set vehicles on fire.
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2024-07-23 02:48:11