Deadly riots kill 98 taking demise toll to 300 after row over warped jobs rule
Deadly unrest in Bangladesh has taken another devastating turn. Buildings blazed in violent riots on Sunday which killed 98 more people.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of protesters who were calling for the nation’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League party, to stand down on Sunday, August 4.
She has since resigned and fled the country in a helicopter as looters stormed her residence, BBC reports.
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Her dramatic departure follows protesters blocking major highways and launching a non-cooperation programme, enflaming violence across the country. In the capital Dhaka, four garment factories were set ablaze and a hospital was vandalised, reports NDTV.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The homes of public representatives, 20 Awami League offices, police stations and other government buildings were vandalised and set on fire in 39 districts.
Violent clashes between protesters and leaders of the Awami League and associate organisations were reported in several of the capital’s districts.
Residences and offices of ruling party ministers, state ministers, parliamentarians and Awami League leaders were also vandalised across the country.
As unrest spilled out of Dhaka, violent clashes broke out leaving protesters, pro-government supporters, police and innocent public dead and injured.
Clashes were reported in Pabna, Feni, Lakshmipur, Narsingdi, Rangpur, Magura. Activists targeted police stations and ruling party offices with reports of severe clashes and significant casualties. 13 policemen were beaten to death in Sirajganj, and homes of two lawmakers were set on fire.
In response, the government declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6pm on Sunday in response to the riots, as well as announced a three-day general holiday from today, Monday, August 5, and shut down the internet.
(Image: Sazzad Hossain/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)
Sunday’s body count marks the riots’ most deadliest day, surpassing the 67 recorded deaths on July 19, and takes the riot’s death toll to 300.
Protests have been raging since July and took a violent turn when activists clashed with police and pro-government counter-protesters at Dhaka University.
Students have been campaigning against Bangladesh’s quota system for government jobs, which saves 30% of these positions for family members of veterans from 1971 War of Independence veterans.
Many say the quote system favours supporters of Prime Minister Hasina’s Awami League party, and campaigners have been pushing for a merit-based system to replace it.
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