What happened across the country Sunday

The Students Against Discrimination announced a one-point demand for the government's resignation.

Nahid Islam, coordinator of the student platform that led the quota reform protests, made the announcement from a mass gathering at the central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday.

He announced through the megaphone, “We have reached a decision about a one-point demand, to ensure safety of human life and establish justice in society. The demand is the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the incumbent government as well as abolition of the fascism.”

The usual hustle and bustle have noticeably been absent in the capital city Sunday morning, with a minimal number of private vehicles, and a limited number of office-goers out on the roads. 

Despite being the week’s first working day, no significant presence of public transport was seen on the roads. 

A female serviceholder, who resides in the Mirpur DOHS area, said on the condition of anonymity that he decided not to attend the office today as various campaigns developed a sense of fear in her over the night.  

On a typical Sunday, the city roads get congested with heavy traffic and rush of office-goers.

During spot visits between 7:30 am and 10:00 am, all the major points of the city, including Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Uttara, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Tejgaon, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Kalyanpur, and Shyamoli, were found with noticeably low traffic.

A few private cars, motorcycles, and rickshaws were found on the roads, but the presence of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, and microbuses was sparse. Commuters were seen waiting at bus stops for extended periods, with some resorting to walking or taking rickshaws to reach their destinations. 

Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in the capital’s Shahbagh area, equipped with sticks.

They went there with processions from the Old Dhaka area around 10:30 am, when leaders and activists of Awami League were chanting pro-government slogans in front of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. 

The demonstrators, at one stage, chased the Awami League men and pushed them inside the hospital, leading to clashes between two sides. 

Until the filing of this report around 11:00 am, clashes were underway there. The Awami League men were hurling brick-chips from the hospital. Some vehicles were also vandalised there.

There have been clashes between the protesting students and a combined force of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League. At least two people have been shot dead, while more than 50 people sustained injuries.

There were phases of clashes between two sides in the Super Market area of Munshiganj from 9:45 am to 11:45 am.

The non-cooperation movement is underway with a one-point demand for the government’s resignation. A police van was set on fire in front of the chief metropolitan magistrate’s (CMM) court.

Protesters brought out a procession from the Natunhat area of Joypurhat district town around 11:00 am. They marched to Zero Point and took a position there.

Until the filing of this report, they were chanting various slogans in favor of their one-point demand for the government's resignation. Members of law enforcement agencies were seen maintaining a cautious stance at a distance.

The agitators vandalised at least three garment factories in the Kayempur area of Narayanganj around 9 am. The situation turned so hostile that the authorities had to announce leave for workers of all factories in the area.

According to witnesses, when the demonstrators moved to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) industrial city around 11:00 am, the owners announced leave for all the workers.  

Mohammad Hatem, the executive president of BKMEA, told Prothom Alo that some outsiders first attacked the EuroTex factory in the morning and forced all the workers to get out. Later, a section of workers joined the demonstrations. 

“As the situation continued to deteriorate, we announced leave for workers of all factories in the BSCIC,” he said, adding there are around 250,000 workers in the industrial city. 

Responding to another query, he revealed that they sought help from the police, but did not get adequate response. It prompted them to announce the leave.

Students are gathering at various spots in Gazipur as part of the non-cooperation movement. Around 10:30 am, 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 vandalised.

A clash has broken out between protesters and a combined force of the police, Chhatra League, and Jubo League in the New Market area of Chattogram city. 

A large number of  students took positions there in the morning and were protesting peacefully. The situation escalated around 11:30 am when leaders and activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League carried out an attack on the protesters from the City College area. 

Later, the police joined the attack and fired tear gas shells at the students around 12:00 pm. They also exploded sound grenades to disperse the protesters. 

Awami League and its sub-ordinate organisations are scheduled to hold a programme at the same place around 1:00 pm.

In the face of widespread clashes across the country, the authorities have suspended mobile internet service across the country.

At least 13 people have so far came to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, after being injuries in clashes at different spots across the capital. Some of them were found with bullet wounds. 

Most of them came to the hospital from Shahbagh, Shanir Akhra, and Naya Bazar areas of the city.

A clash broke out between the protesters and the police and the ruling party men at Azampur of Uttara in Dhaka around 12:00 pm. 

When the protesters took position on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, former ruling party lawmaker Habib Hasan was addressing a gathering at Azampur. At one stage, the protesters chased away the ruling party men and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. 

Later, both sides engaged in clashes and spells of chase and counter-chase. A fire was set on the highway.    

The protesters are now in the BNS-Azampur stretch on the highway, while vehicular movement has been suspended.

Mehedi Hasan, the senior joint secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Magura district unit, has been killed in clashes between the protesters and the police and the Awami League men at Parnanduali in Magura. 

He sustained bullet wounds during the clashes around 11:30 pm. 

Mohshin Uddin, director of the 25-bed hospital of the district, said the youth was taken to the hospital around 12:00 pm, with bullet wounds. He, however, succumbed to his injuries around 12:30 pm. . 

He also said at least 10 people went to the hospital after sustaining injuries in clashes. 

With this, the death toll from clashes on Sunday rose to three.

A large group of students have taken position in a one-kilometer stretch – from Kuttapra intersection to Bishwa Road – of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in the Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria. 

They thronged the highway around 9:00 pm and are still staying there, blocking vehicular movement.

A large group of people have been demonstrating in the capital’s Science Lab area since 11:30 am. They are chanting various slogans demanding resignation of the government. 

No vehicles were seen crossing the area during the protest, and there was no presence of law enforcement agencies. 

Meanwhile, the nearby police box and at the road dividers were vandalised. One was seen carrying the broken irons on a rickshaw.

Protesters have engaged in clashes and spells of chase and counter-chase with the Awami League men in Rangpur. At least one has died during the clashes, while around 10 suffered injuries.

With this, the death toll in the non-cooperation movement rose to four. The other deaths were reported from Munshiganj, Rangpur and Magura.

Clashes have erupted between protesters and Awami League leaders and activists, along with members of the party's affiliates, at Bangla Motor in the capital. 

When the protesters took position in the Shahbagh area, an Awami League procession moved to the spot from Karwan Bazar. At one stage, both groups engaged in clashes there. 

Some protesters were injured as gunshots were fired at them. They were taken to the hospital.

A fire was set to the office of Dhaka south’s ward no. 21 councilor Asaduzzaman at Paribagh in Dhaka. The incident took place around 12:oo pm.

Two more individuals have died in clashes between the protesting students and the ruling party men in Rangpur and Magura.

With the latest deaths, the death toll in the non-cooperation movement rises to six. Earlier, one death was reported from Magura and Rangpur each, while two from Munshiganj.

The protesting students and the police have been clashing in the Court Point area of Sylhet. A number of people sustained critical injuries. 

According to witnesses, the students started gathering in the Court Point area at 11:00 am, to hold their demonstration programme. Some of them were carrying sticks. 

Around 12:00 pm, the police carried out a sudden attack on the students and fired tear gas shells to disperse them, which triggered clashes between two sides. Until the filing of this report, the clashes were underway.  

At least 20 people have sustained injuries as there was a violent fight between the protesters and the ruling party men in Chandpur. 

The clash broke out in the district town’s Taltala area around 11:00 am when both groups went there to hold their respective programmes. 

Mahbubur Rahman, superintendent of Chandpur General Hospital, said the injured were taken to his hospital. He, however, could not reveal their identities immediately.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 11 as more deaths were reported from different districts.

Until the filing of this report, three died in Bogura, while two deaths were confirmed in Munshiganj, Magura, Pabna, and Rangpur each.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

Students and other demonstrators were holding demonstrations on the Abdul Hamid road in Pabna. The policemen were seen cooperating with the protesters.

Suddenly, a group of people appeared in the scene and opened fire at the protesters, injuring at least 20 people. Later, two individuals succumbed to their injuries.

The aggrieved agitators later set fire to the vehicle that carried the attackers to the spot.

Awami League leaders and activists chased protesters at Dhanmondi Road 27 in the capital and they were wielding firearms.

Gunshots were also heard. The clashes bagan around 11:30 in the morning.

Protestors began gathering by the side of Rapa Plaza on Road 27 Dhanmondi at around 11:00am. Meanwhile, at a short distance away, Awami League leaders and activists took position on the road near Asad Gate.

At around 11:30am the demonstrators suddenly began to run and scatter when Awami League leaders rushed forward towards them, opening gunfire. This correspondent saw a pistol in one of the Awami League men's hands.

The protesters ran and took position half way down Road 27.

Awami League leaders and activists also took position in front of Bangladesh Eye Hospital too. At around 11:45am they started advancing towards Road 27 too. At the time, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) had formed a human chain in front of MIDAS centre on Road 27 Dhanmondi.

The journalists gathered there including of Prothom Alo were preparing to send their reports back to their offices. Awami League leaders and workers aggressively threatened them too.

Curfew has been imposed from 6:00pm today in all divisional cities including Dhaka, city corporation areas, pourashavas, industrial areas, district Sadar and upazila Sadar. The curfew will remain effective until further notice.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 18 as more deaths were reported from different districts.

Until the filing of this report, three each died in Bogura, Munshiganj, Bhola, Rangpur and Magura, two deaths were confirmed in Pabna and one died in Cumilla.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

Protesters are clashing with Awami League leaders and activists in Sonargaon Hotel intersection and Karwan Bazar areas. The protesters, positioned towards Banglamotor side are throwing brickbats while Police and AL men are in the Karwan Bazar side. Police are filing stun granades and teargas shells but as of filing this report at 4:20, protesters have crossed Sonargaon Hotel intersection.

State minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said they want to find a peaceful solution through dialogue. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon people to resist terrorists.

Five people reportedly died in Feni as protesters clashed with Chhatra League, Jubo League and Awami League. The clashes broke out around 2:00pm. The protesters were staging demonstration from the morning. As the ruling party men brought out a procession at Mahipal bridge at around 2:00pm, the clashes broke out. The identities of the five victims could not be known. At least 10 including three journalists were injured.

Feni 250-bed hospital’s medical officer Asif Iqbal said around 3:30pm that five bodies are currently at emergency unit of the hospital. All died during the clashes in Mahipal.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement has surged to 28 as more deaths were reported from different districts.

Until 4:00pm, five died in Feni, four in Sirajganj, three each in Bogura, Munshiganj, Bhola, Rangpur and Magura, two deaths were confirmed in Pabna and one each died in Cumilla and Barishal.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 32 as more deaths were reported from 13 districts.

Until 4:00pm, five died in Feni, four in Sirajganj, three each in Bogura, Munshiganj, Bhola, Rangpur and Magura, two each in Sylhet and Pabna and one each died in Dhaka, Joypurhat, Cumilla and Barishal.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

Protesters chased and counter chased Awami League leaders and activists in Mirpur-10. The clashes took place as a group of protesters advanced to Mirpur-10 intersection from the Kazipara area. AL leaders present in Mirpur-10 shot at the protesters during the clash 

Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources said a total of 56 people with bullet wounds were brought here from Shahbagh, Shanir Akhra, Noyabazar, Dhanmondi, Science Laboratory, Paltan, Press Club and Munshiganj. Of them, 16 were admitted and others were released after primary treatment.

The government has declared three days of public holiday starting from Monday. The announcement has been made through an executive order today.

Former army officials opined that ‘initiatives have been taken to militarise the political crisis,’ and protested the move, as well as called for bringing the army back to barracks.

The former officials made the call at a press conference on Sunday to resolve the existing crisis at the auditorium of the Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA) in the capital’s Mohakhali. Former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan presented the keynote remarks at the briefing.

Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan said had the policymakers of the country not lost their sanity, consciousness and soul the largest tragedy of these killings would not have happened in the history of Bangladesh over the last several weeks. Numerous people were maimed in these attacks, aggressions and counter-resistances. Many teenagers and youths lost their sight. Helpless citizens are not receiving necessary and emergency treatment. On top of that, dangerous situations like homes and messes are being marked by terrorists and blocked raids are being launched to detain people through blocked raids. Thousands of innocent teenage boys and girls, juveniles, young girls and youths are arrested in false cases or at large.

At the beginning, six senior retired defence officials including Brigadier General (retired) Md Shakhawat Hossain, and Brigadier General (retired) Shahedul Aman addressed the event. Former army chief Nuruddin Khan Lieutenant General (retired) Nuruddin Khan was also present.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 38 as more deaths were reported from 10 districts.

Until 5:00pm, five each died in Narsingdi and Feni, four in Sirajganj, three each in Bogura, Munshiganj, Bhola, Rangpur and Magura, two each in Dhaka, Sylhet and Pabna and one each in Joypurhat, Cumilla and Barishal.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

The death toll in the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 43 as more deaths were reported from different districts.

Until 5:45pm, five each died in Narsingdi and Feni, four each in Sirajganj, Dhaka, Rangpur and Bogura, three each in Munshiganj, Bhola and Magura, two each in Sylhet, Cumilla and Pabna and one each in Joypurhat, Cumilla and Barishal.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

The death toll in day-long clashes centering the non-cooperation movement today has surged to 51 as the number of casualties rises in every passing minute. The protesters clashed with Awami League and its associate organisations’ men in different districts of the country. A college student died after being bullet-hit in Lakshmipur, and over 50 were injured, as clashed flared up from Temuhani to Jhumur areas. Three motorcycles were torched.  

As per the latest update, six each died in Narsingdi and Sirajganj , five in Feni, four each in Dhaka, Kishoreganj, Magura, Rangpur and Bagura, three each in Munshiganj, Bhola and Pabna, two each in Sylhet and Cumilla and one each in Joypurhat and Barishal.

They all died during clashes with the protesting students and a combined force of the police and the ruling party, alongside its affiliates.

The protesters took away four bodies from the main gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 5:30pm today as these were being taken to the hospital. They took the bodies to central Shaheed Minar first and then advanced towards Shahbagh. They were chanting different slogans. 

Police headquarters said a total of 14 policemen have been killed across the country with a total of 13 in Enayatpur police station in Sirajganj, said the police headquarters. One policeman has been killed in Cumilla’s Eliotganj, it added.

With this, the death toll in today's violent clashes reaches 66.

Six leaders and activists of ruling Awami League were beaten dead after the ruling party men fired at protesters in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi. The incident took place around 1:30pm near pourasha mosque.

Identities of three victims could be confirmed. They are: Chardighaldi union parishad’s chairman Delowar Hossain (Shahin), Sadar upazila chairman Anowar Hossain's brother and town Motsyajibi League president Delowar Hossain and district Swecchasebak League’s former president Moniruzzaman Bhuiyan.

The ruling party men led by Sadar upazila chairman went to remove several thousand protesters who blocked Dhaka-Sylhet highway around 12 noon. As the protesters did not back away, the ruling party men opened fire, injuring four.

Later the protesters beat up the ruling party men and killed six of them. The bodies of them remained unattended as of filing of this report at 6:00pm. 

Police headquarters said a total of 14 policemen have been killed across the country with a total of 13 in Enayatpur police station in Sirajganj, said the police headquarters. One policeman has been killed in Cumilla’s Eliotganj, it added.

The police HQ said Jatrabari and Khilgaon police stations; Gorai highway police station in Tangail; Bagura Sadar, Dupchanchia and Sherpur police stations and Naruli police outpost; Joypurhat Sadar police station; Eliotganj highway police station in Cumilla; Gangachhara, Mithapukur, Pirgacha, Pirganj, Badarganj and Gangachhara police stations in Rangpur; Sadar and Ashuganj police stations; Enayetpur, Ullapara and Shahjadpur police stations in Sirajganj; Madhabpur police outpost in Habiganj; Mymensingh range office; police superintendent’s offices in Narayanganj, Bagura, Pabna and Sirajganj and Dinajpur Sadar police station came under attack. Over 300 policemen were injured during the violent clashes.

As per the latest update, death toll reached 72 across the country

At least 88 including 14 policemen have died as violent protests erupted across the country today.

In day-long clashes, 22 people died in Sirajganj district alone including 13 policemen. The cops were killed inside Enayetpur police station in the district.

Feni and Lakshmipur each saw eight deaths while six Awami League leaders were lynched in Narsingdi.

Five died in Bogura, four each died in Dhaka, Kishoreganj, Magura, Sylhet and Rangpur.

Munshiganj, Bhola, Pabna and Cumilla saw three deaths each while Sherpur saw two deaths. Joypurhat, Habiganj, Dhaka’s Keraniganj, Savar and Barishal saw one death each.  

Students Against Discrimination has changed the date of 'March to Dhaka' programme from Tuesday to Monday.

The platform that led the quota reform movement has called upon the protesters from all over the country to come to Dhaka. Asif Mahmud, coordinator of the platform, made this call in a statement.

"In an urgent decision in light of the situation, our 'March to Dhaka' programme has been changed from next Tuesday to tomorrow Monday. We are calling on the protesters from all over the country to march to Dhaka tomorrow,” Asif Mahmud said.

At least 93 people, including 14 police members, have died as violent protests erupted across the country today.

A total of 22 people including 13 police members died in Sirajganj. The cops were killed inside Enayetpur police station in the district.

Dhaka, Feni and Lakshmipur saw eight each deaths while six Awami League leaders were lynched in Narsingdi.

Five each died in Bogura and Sylhet, four each died in Kishoreganj, Magura, and Rangpur. Three each died in Munshiganj, Bhola, Pabna and Cumilla while Sherpur saw two deaths. Joypurhat, Habiganj, Dhaka’s Keraniganj, Savar and Barishal saw one death each. 

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reports: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the people of the country to curb anarchists with iron hands.

"No one of those who now are carrying out violence is a student. They are terrorists," said PM's assistant press secretary ABM Sarwer-E-Alam Sarker quoting the PM as saying.

The PM has given the instruction after coming out of the meeting of National Committee on Security Affairs (NCSA), the highest policy making authority of the national security, at her official Ganabhaban residence here, Sarwar added.

Ministers of foreign affairs, finance, law, home, civil aviation, education, PM's security affairs adviser and state ministers for power, energy and mineral resources, and information and broadcasting, were present at the meeting.

Cabinet secretary, chiefs of three services, PM's principal secretary, senior secretary of foreign ministry, principal staff office (PSO) of Armed Forces Division (AFD), inspector general of police (IGP), director generals of BGB, NSI and DGFI, chief executive officer (CEO) of NCSA, director general (DG) of RAB and Special Branch (SB) chief, were present, among others.

The country experienced a day of unprecedented violence on Sunday as 99 people including 14 policemen died in day-long clashes centering the non-cooperation movement called by Students Against Discrimination.

The clashes rocked nook and corners of the country today after the platform rolled out its one-point demand seeking the resignation of the government on Saturday. The protesters in thousands took to streets and engaged with pitched battles against policemen and ruling party activists. Report of fighting started appearing since the morning.

A total of 22 people including 13 policemen died in Sirajganj. The cops were killed inside Enayetpur police station in the district.

At least 11 people did in capital Dhaka, eight each in Feni and Lakshmipur while six Awami League leaders were lynched in Narsingdi.

Five each died in Kishoreganj, Bagura and Sylhet, four each died in Magura, and Rangpur. Three each died in Munshiganj, Bhola, Pabna and Cumilla while Sherpur and Joypurhat saw two deaths. Habiganj, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka’s Keraniganj, Savar and Barishal saw one death each.