Terrorist attacks are taking place in various places of Bangladesh, according to a government press release issued on Sunday. The government also vowed to take strict action against the terrorist attackers. A three-day general holiday has been declared in the country from today.
India has advised all its nationals to avoid travelling to Bangladesh until further notice due to ongoing violence.
Meanwhile, the University Teachers’ Network has proposed to form an interim government immediately, consisting of people of different sections and professions. According to the proposal, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to hand over power to the interim government.
The teachers’ network held a press conference titled ‘Proposal of an outline for transition to a democratic Bangladesh free of discrimination’ at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Sunday.
Sunday’s clashes erupted a few days after more than 200 people were killed in violent clashes between the police and mostly student protesters, who were demanding an end to the controversial quota system.
The quota system reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971. Since then, more than 11,000 people have been arrested.
Also read: Bangladesh Supreme Court scraps most job quotas that triggered deadly protests
Officials said that Sunday’s protests were joined by unidentified people and activists of the right-wing Islami Shashontantra Andolon, which erected barricades on several major highways and within the capital city.
Houses of public representatives, Awami League offices, police stations and other government installations were attacked, vandalised and torched in 39 districts on Sunday.
The situation prompted the authorities to order a curfew in major cities and small towns across Bangladesh for an indefinite period from 6pm Sunday, mobilising troops, paramilitary border guards BGB, and the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion alongside the police.
The government ordered the shutdown of Meta platforms Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. The mobile operators were ordered to shut down 4G mobile Internet.
Prime Minister Hasina on Saturday offered to sit for talks with the co-ordinators of the movement. However, they rejected her proposal.
The government leaders earlier said that the “peaceful campaign” was hijacked by fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami and their student front Islami Chhatra Shibir being backed by ex-premier Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk asked the country’s political leadership and the security forces to abide by their obligations to protect the right to life, and the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
At the same time, he said, accountability for human rights violations, including the responsibility of senior officers and orders, is very important.
