93 Lives Lost Amidst Protests in Bangladesh Calling for PM Hasina's Resignation

According to SAEDNEWS, In one of the deadliest days of unrest, at least 93 people have died, including 14 police officers, and over a thousand others have been injured during violent clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police in Bangladesh. This upheaval is part of a series of protests that began approximately three weeks ago.

On Sunday, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years. The demonstrations, which initially started last month to address civil service job quotas, have escalated into significant unrest against Hasina’s government.

Protests erupted in at least 20 districts, featuring confrontations between police and ruling party activists and anti-government protesters. Local media, citing law enforcement sources, noted that the death toll could exceed 93, with total fatalities since protests commenced in July potentially reaching at least 300.

Authorities claim that protesters attacked police officers, including an incident in which a station was stormed in the northeastern town of Enayetpur, resulting in the deaths of 11 policemen, according to Deputy Inspector General Bijoy Basak.

In the capital city, Dhaka, at least 12 individuals are reported to have died, with multiple victims suffering from bullet wounds. Additionally, 18 fatalities were recorded in the northern district of Sirajganj.

"The shocking violence in Bangladesh must stop," stated United Nations rights chief Volker Turk, expressing his concerns over the escalating situation ahead of a mass march planned for Monday.

The recent unrest stems from grievances against a monthly quota system, which allocates 56 percent of public jobs to specific groups, including 30 percent for the descendants of those who fought in the country’s liberation war against Pakistan in 1971. This quota system was introduced in 1972 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the nation's founding father and first president.

As tensions continue to rise, the situation remains precarious, with many calling for an end to the violence.

Video credits: TRT WORLD