Eight Awami League leaders and 14 policemen were also killed. Violent protestors attacked police stations, blocked roads and torched buses and other vehicles on Sunday
Monitoring Desk
Dhaka
At least 98 people, including 14 policemen and eight Awami League leaders, were killed and dozens injured as a new wave of widespread violence erupted across Bangladesh on Sunday, the first day of a non-cooperation movement enforced by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to press for its demand for resignation of the government.
Attacks on Newspaper Offices
Two newspaper offices in Dhaka come under attack. A group of unruly people attacked the offices of two newspapers in Dhaka on Sunday. The first incident occurred at 4pm at The Daily Star Centre on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, where bricks and stones were hurled at the building. Later in the evening, another attack was reported at the Desh Rupantor newspaper office in Banglamotor.
AL leader’s house vandalized
Anti-government protesters vandalized the house of Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the ruling Awami League and lawmaker from Kushtia sadar, venting their anger after daylong clashes with police in different parts of Kushtia town. However, Hanif was in Dhaka at the time of the attack on his home, confirmed Zahurul Islam, a member of Kushita Zilla Council.
Eight including AL leader killed in capital
At least eight people, including a ruling party leader and two students, were killed in the capital on Sunday during clashes between anti-government protesters on one side, and police and ruling party activists on the other side.
Among the deceased, Anwarul Islam, 60, was an executive committee member of Dhaka North Awami League. He was killed by protesters at Uttara’s Rajlokkhi area during a chase and counter-chase waged by the opposing parties, a ward councilor from the ruling party told reporters.
Anti-Discrimination Student Movement rejects curfew
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has rejected the government-announced nationwide curfew, imposed for an indefinite period. Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the movement, said this in a Facebook post on Sunday evening.
Courts close indefinitely
Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan has declared that all courts across the country will remain closed indefinitely amid the ongoing unrest due to the students’ protests. On Sunday, the Supreme Court administration issued a separate notification under the Chief Justice’s directives.
Banks, stocks to remain closed Monday-Wednesday
Banks, stock markets, and all financial institutions will remain closed for three days from Monday during the general holiday, said the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
Curfew imposed amid deteriorating law and order situation
In response to the worsening law and order situation across the country, an indefinite curfew has been imposed starting Sunday evening. The announcement was made on Sunday through the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) website, reports UNB.
14 police members killed in Sirajganj, Cumilla
Thirteen police members were killed in Sirajganj on Sunday when miscreants attacked the Enayetpur police station. AKM Kamrul Ahsan, Public Relations Officer at the Police Headquarters confirmed this to the Daily Sun. Meanwhile, another police member was killed as miscreants attacked Eliotganj Highway police station, he said.
Clashes in Dhaka leave two dead, including a student
Clashes between protesters, police, and Awami League activists have erupted in different parts of the capital, leaving two dead, including a student.
The student who died during a clash in Dhanmondi’s Jigatola area was identified as Abdullah Siddique, 23. He is a student of Habibullah Bahar Degree College. He received a bullet injury during the clash.
Three-day public holiday from Monday
The government has announced three days of public holidays from Monday to ensure public safety amid the evolving situation following the student movement across the country.
Students block Dhaka-Aricha highway
The students of Jahangirnagar University blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway as part of ‘all-out non-cooperation movement’ on Sunday morning. Students from nearby schools, colleges, and other universities also joined the protest.
Highway blocked in Gazipur, AL office torched
Students are gathering at various spots in Gazipur as part of the non-cooperation movement. Hundreds of students marched from Shafipur Bazar in Kaliakair Upazila to the Chandra Trimor area and blocked the highway. Tensions escalated there when Awami League leaders and activists gathered in front of the Chandra upazila office of Awami League. At one point, the office was set on fire, while the police box at Chandra Trimor area was vandalized.
Read: Has Bangladesh students’ protest been hijacked by Jamaat-e-Islami?
Madrasa students block Postogola road
The non-cooperation movement demanding the government’s resignation has intensified, engulfing the capital and the entire country. Alongside university students, teachers and students from various madrasas, parents, and people from all walks of life are participating in the movement. On Sunday morning, madrasa students blocked the road in Postogola, Dhaka, and staged a sit-in protest.
Vehicles vandalized, torched at BSMMU
Miscreants set fire to a number of vehicles parked inside the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). The incident took place at around 11am on Sunday (4 August) at Shahbagh in the capital. During this time, at least 50 vehicles including ambulances, private cars, and motorcycles inside the university were vandalized and torched.
Protesters block Science Lab intersection
Protesting students under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Sunday blocked Science Lab intersection demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and all members of the cabinet. Students took to the street at 10am which suspended vehicular movement in the area. However, the presence of any members of the law and order forces was not visible in the entire area.
Operation of all trains suspended
The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has suspended operations of all kinds of trains for an indefinite period.
Confirming the matter through a text message on Sunday night, BR Director (Public Relations) Md Nahid Hasan Khan said the authorities took the decision in the wake of the current circumstances and announcement of a curfew.
The train services will remain suspended until further notice, he added.
On 1 August, operations of passenger trains on a limited scale resumed after the services remained suspended for two weeks following the violence centering the quota reform movement.
On Saturday night, the Bangladesh Railway suspended operations for Sunday.
Houses of AL leaders come under attack at places
The residences of the ruling Awami League leaders came under attack at different places in the country on Sunday, the first day of a non-cooperation movement enforced by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to press for its demand for resignation of the government.
In Chandpur, the house of Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni was attacked during clashes between protesters and activists of the Chhatra League and the Jubo League.
The incident took place in the Notun Bazar area of the town around 2pm. Witnesses said attackers also set fire to five to six vehicles parked at the basement of the residence.
In Barishal, the residence of State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque was attacked. At least 20 motorcycles were set on fire in front of and around his house. The incident took place in front of Karim’s cottage in the city’s Battala area around 12:30pm, witnesses said.
In Khulna, unruly people attacked the residence of lawmakers Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salahuddin at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Road in the town at noon. They also set fire to the house.
In Tangail, miscreants set fire to the residence of district Awami League Joint General Secretary Tanvir Hassan Chhoto Monir in the Ashekpur area of the town in the afternoon.
Numerous establishments, factories, vehicles vandalized, torched
Numerous establishments and vehicles were also vandalized and torched during the clashes that took place between protesters, police and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies amid gunshots coupled with sound grenades and teargas canisters.
Additionally, five readymade garment factories – Hameem Godown, Sinha Textile, Beximco Textile, Doreen Textile and another factory owned by Bengal Group – in Savar’s Ashulia were torched by miscreants. Following the incidents, the BGMEA announced closure of RMG factories across the country for an indefinite period of time.
Read: 32 children killed, many injured in Bangladesh protests: UNICEF
Attacks were carried out on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the capital, the house of former President Abul Hamid, and at least 26 police stations. A large number of vehicles were torched and vandalized on the BSMMU premises.
Apart from the killing of 14 policemen, 300 others suffered injuries during the attacks, police said.
Since the morning, the roads at Uttara, Vatara, Badda, Aftabnagar, Shantinagar, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka University, Science Lab and Dhanmondi went under the control of agitating students but the clashes ensued when the ruling party men took out processions.
At least two people — a student and an AL leader — were killed during clashes between protesters and supporters of the ruling party at Uttara. At least 30 people sustained bullet injuries during the mayhem.
The deceased AL leader was identified as Dhaka North AL ward-1 former president Anwarul Islam, his brother and former MP Habib Hasan told the media.
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Courtesy: Daily Sun, Dhaka
