Bangladesh: Curfew imposed across the country, decision to deploy army

The Bangladesh government has decided to deploy the army by issuing a curfew across the country after the ongoing agitation on the issue of quota reform.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary Naeemul Islam Khan confirmed that this decision was taken at the meeting of 14 parties at Ganabhaban on Friday night.

He told BBC Bangla that after the meeting of the 14 parties, the Law Minister and the Home Minister have been asked to take necessary measures to implement the decision. He also said that an order will be issued in this regard shortly.

He said that the army will help the private administration in all the places of the country where there is danger of conflict and violence.

The death toll in Friday’s violence in Dhaka has risen to 32

Rampura-Bansree is one of the areas in Dhaka where a terrible situation occurred on Friday. Rubel Hossain, manager of the hospital, told BBC Bangla that 10 people were declared dead after being brought to Faraji Hospital here.

He said that all were shot dead.

Their bodies have been handed over to their families.

Besides, at least 300 people were injured and received treatment at Faraji Hospital. Mr. said that most of them were shot. Hussain.

Superintendent of Kuwait Maitri Hospital. Mizanur Rahman said that a person named Jobair Bepari was brought to the hospital in a dead state.

Mr. Mizan said that they came to know that 40-year-old Jobayer was a businessman by profession.

“He was crossing the conflict zone as a pedestrian,” added Mr. Mizan

Besides, at least 89 injured were treated at Kuwait Maitri Hospital. Five of them were shot.

The government is trying to negotiate with the organizers of the anti-discrimination student movement on the quota reform issue. However, the organizers say that after so many lives, the way of negotiation is no longer open.

Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, told BBC Bangla on Friday evening, “Our movement will continue unless the student’s murder is prosecuted”.

After the ‘Complete Shutdown’ program was announced last Thursday, violence spread across the country surrounding this program. In this attack, more than half a hundred deaths have occurred in different parts of the country including the capital Dhaka since Tuesday.

After the shutdown program for two consecutive days, will any programs continue from Saturday?

In this question Mr. Islam told the BBC, “The movement is no longer about quota reform. We demand justice for the fact that students were shot dead, common people were harmed, we were evicted from the halls of residence”.

He said that this movement of students will continue. However, he also said that the new program will be announced soon.

After the movement spread, Awami League proposed reducing the quota in government jobs to 20 percent on Thursday night.

However, this organizer said that they already have a recommendation to keep the quota at a maximum of five percent. They are in the same position as before.

The government has alleged that various political parties including BNP Jamaat have participated in this movement.

Many other than students were seen participating in clashes with the police at various places on Friday.

At least two coordinators on this issue told BBC Bangla that the anti-discrimination student movement has no affiliation with any political party expressing solidarity with them.

It has been decided that the services of international train Maitri Express between Kolkata and Dhaka will be stopped for the time being. This information has been confirmed to BBC Bengal by the Ministry of Railways in Delhi. This decision has been taken against the backdrop of the unrest and turmoil going on across the country due to the clashes between the security forces and the students who are agitating for quota reform in Bangladesh. In fact, due to this protest, the authorities were forced to stop the Friday Maitri Express train midway. A Railway Ministry official in Delhi told the BBC that there is no possibility of the train starting service before next Sunday.

Former mayor of Gazipur City Corporation Jahangir Alam was injured and his personal assistant (PS) was killed on Friday in an attack during agitation on the issue of quota reform in Azampur, Uttara of the capital.

The name of the deceased personal assistant is Atiqur Rahman Jewel.

Former mayor Jahangir Alam’s press secretary Mazharul Islam Masum confirmed this news to BBC Bangla.

He said that in the afternoon, former mayor Jahangir Alam was going with a fleet from Tongi towards Uttara. When the protesters attacked, Mr. was killed. Jewel.

Mr. Masum said that after the attack, former mayor Jahangir Alam, his personal assistant and gunman were taken to a local hospital and the protesters attacked there as well.

Later he was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka. Now Jahangir Alam is undergoing treatment there.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost in-charge Mohammad Bachchu Mia told BBC that at least 20 people died there. However, he did not elaborate on whether all of them are protestors or not.

At least 23 deaths were reported in Dhaka on Friday.

The protestors stormed the Narsingdi district jail on Friday amidst the agitation over the quota reform issue. At least several hundred inmates were reported to have escaped from the prison when the prison went out of control. Local journalist Ashiqur Rahman Piyal told BBC Bangla from the scene, “In the afternoon, the protesters attacked the office of the District Superintendent of Police, the District Council and the District Jail, among others. At one point in the attack, Narsingdi District Jail went beyond the control of the jail police and the inmates escaped from there. Multiple witnesses confirmed the incident to the BBC. Citing prison sources, journalist Ashiqur Rahman Piyal said that there were at least more than 1,000 inmates in this prison till Friday. Many of them were convicted. BBC Bengal contacted Narsingdi prison authorities in this regard, but none of them could be reached on the phone. Police and other law enforcement forces dispersed the protesters in Narsingdi town after a series of clashes from afternoon to evening.

Protesters set fire to two fire service vehicles in the town hall and bus stand areas of Mohammadpur. On the other hand, after Friday prayers in Mirpur, angry people came out on the streets in Kazipara, Shaorapara and Mirpur – 10 at around 3 pm. The leaders and workers of the ruling party had already taken a position there. Local eyewitnesses told the BBC that there was a chase between them and the protesters. They said that at one point the sound of gunshots was also heard.

Shiuli Akhter, a resident of a residential building near the BRTA building, said that the protesters set fire to the BRTA building at Mirpur 14 before five in the afternoon. However, even after half an hour of the incident, no fire service was seen to come to extinguish the fire. The fire in the building is spreading and burning. He said that from the building, some youngsters wearing helmets and some boys of 14/15 years of age ran riot in the BRTA building. He thought the youths were being led by men wearing helmets.

Thousands of students have gathered on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of the main gate of Jahangirnagar University since 3 pm on Friday. This has caused severe traffic jam on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, Jahangirnagar University representative Hasib Zaman told BBC at around 5:30 pm on Friday. He said that no one has stopped the movement of the students so far, so they are able to protest peacefully on the Dhaka-Aricha highway. However, there were massive fights in Savar. Jahangirnagar University was closed indefinitely on July 17 and students were forced to leave the hall. Therefore, “some of the locks of the halls which were sealed have been broken by the students and more halls may be broken today.”

Around four in the afternoon, the protesting students surrounded Rampura police station in the capital. At this time there were clashes between the police and the protestors. Ahsan Apu, an eyewitness from in front of Rampura police station, told BBC Bangla that angry students came in front of Rampura police station after 2 pm and set fire to a motorcycle. A police van was vandalized. Police fired to disperse the protesters. During this time, the protestors chased each other with the police. Around four in the afternoon, the agitators surrounded the Rampura police station from three sides. Several buildings were vandalized. A building under construction of the City Corporation next door attacked the police station. At one point, the police retreated. The protestors surrounded the police station till six in the afternoon and attacked the police station.

Since Friday morning, there have been sporadic clashes on the Gulshan-Bada link road in the capital. Even at 4:30 in the afternoon, BBC correspondents saw clashes between the protesters and the police. The agitators scattered and pelted bricks and stones at the police from different lanes of Badda. The police kept firing tearshells, rubber bullets and sound grenades at them. People of different ages and classes and professions were seen among the agitators. Many of them were in offensive roles. If someone wants to take a picture, they are seen blocking it. The protestors went to gather towards the road of Gulshan-1 from the direction of Police Plaza. Additional force of law and order forces is seen deployed to prevent them. A number of local Awami League workers were seen joining them. A team from BBC Bengal went in front of the American Embassy at around five o’clock. There, the protestors and policemen were seen in a conflicting position from three sides. On the opposite side of the embassy, ​​after crossing the Bhatara police station, clashes between the police and the protesters could be seen. At that time, the presence of some women police was seen. Agitators were also present on the road towards New Market. The police are seen continuously firing tearshells, sound grenades and rubber bullets there. On the opposite side, police and agitators can be seen in reverse position in front of Subastu Tower towards Badda. There, the police were on the offensive with two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) of the BGB. The entire progress table has been extensively vandalized. At least 3 burnt cars and 4 motorcycles were seen by BBC Bengal correspondents. Fires were seen burning on roads throughout the entire Pragati Sarni. There were fallen trees and metal road dividers. Pedestrians going out for emergency work at this time are seen to be in trouble. BBC Bengal correspondent spoke to an old tea seller. He was sitting under the road overbridge in front of the embassy as he could not walk. The policemen kept asking him to leave. This old man named Mohammad Sobhan told BBC Bangla, “If I could walk, would I sit here, father? I did not know that there would be this turmoil. I have sent you to Kakir. How can I go if I don’t get a rickshaw?”

A few policemen were seen showing fatigue in this area. The policemen, who did not wish to be named, said that several of their colleagues were injured in the clash.

Dhaka Metrorail will be closed

The Dhaka Metrorail Authority said that the metro rail movement will be closed for an indefinite period from Saturday. Tarfdar Mahmudur Rahman, public relations officer of the organization, said that this order of the authorities will remain in force until further orders are given in the interest of public safety.

The police are clashing with the protestors in Dhaka’s Paltan. At the same time, protesters set fire to the road with barricades at Shantinagar junction. Meanwhile, people can be seen waiting at the railway station due to the suspension of train services for the past few days.

At least three people were reported dead in Dhaka’s Banshree in the afternoon in the clashes that started in the morning. Hospital authorities said that at least 300 people were injured and are receiving treatment in three hospitals. Rubel Hossain, manager of Bansree Faraji Hospital, told BBC Bangla, “Three people have died of gunshot wounds in the hospital till afternoon. Hospital authorities are treating at least 200 injured persons. He said that at least one hundred more injured protesters came to this hospital for treatment, but due to lack of treatment facilities, they were sent to nearby Advance Hospital and Al Razi Hospital. Mr. Rubel said, apart from the protestors in the street, a woman in a house in Banshri is also under treatment in Faraji Hospital with gunshot wounds. This clash which started in the morning was seen till five in the afternoon on the streets of Banashree and Rampura.

This is the first time that India has given an official response to the situation in Bangladesh, which is in turmoil due to the clash between the security forces and the protesting students demanding quota reforms. Responding to a series of questions on the situation in Bangladesh at the Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly briefing in New Delhi on Friday afternoon, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal simply replied, “We are treating it as an internal matter of Bangladesh.” He also said that he is preparing to help. The Indian Embassy in Dhaka has already issued a ‘travel advisory’ for Indians in the country and Indians have been asked to contact the embassy in case of any need. According to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, approximately 8500 Indian students are studying in Bangladesh and about 15 thousand Indian citizens are in Bangladesh for various other purposes. It has also been stated that the Government of India is ready to provide all possible help for their safety and security. Randhir Jauswal also said that India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar himself is constantly ‘monitoring’ the situation in Bangladesh.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Farooq Ahmed told the BBC that two people were killed in Dhaka on Friday in a police clash with protestors of the quota reform movement. One of them is in Jatrabari and the other is in Rampura of Dhaka. Apart from this, the ruling Awami League and nationalist party BNP will be able to hold rallies in their offices. Apart from this, DMP has banned gatherings and processions in any other place in Dhaka.

Hasnat Abdullah, one of the co-ordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, told the BBC that the movement will continue until the damages they have suffered during the quota reform movement, including the loss of life, are resolved. Besides, regarding the ongoing violence, he said, it has nothing to do with the anti-discrimination student movement. He told the BBC, “We are making sure that the anti-discrimination student movement is never associated with the violence that is happening in various places. If any political party wants to use the anti-discrimination student movement as a tool to implement their agenda, they will never be given that opportunity. ” In addition, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said that they ‘do not agree’ with the 20 percent quota that the government said yesterday. If the quota is to be more than five percent, there should be research-based evidence – Mr. Abdullah said, “Realistically, the government can negotiate with the government to include the marginal towns in the mainstream of development. However, even if the quota is increased, it can be increased to a maximum of eight to 10 percent.” He said that today they will tell their five to eight point demands. If the government guarantees to fulfill those demands, then only they will sit in the discussion, said Mr. Abdullah

Protesters are clashing with the police in Dhaka’s Paltan, Vijay Nagar and surrounding areas. Tension has been building in these areas since Friday morning. At noon, the BBC Bengal correspondent saw a large presence of law and order forces in the Nightingale Mor area. Going inside, signs of arson and damage were seen at various places on the road. During this time, the protesters were seen throwing bricks and stones from the Vijayanagara water tank area. Demonstrators were seen in various places and streets around the area adjacent to Baitul Mukarram Mosque. Unstable situation prevails in the entire area. Broken bricks, tree branches, advertisement boards are lying on the roads. Police repeatedly fired tear shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. Several protestors and police were injured here. BBC Bangla has learned from hospital sources that many people are receiving treatment at various hospitals in the area. However, the number of injured could not be confirmed immediately.

Law Minister Anisul Haque told BBC Bangla that the government is waiting for talks with anti-quota activists. “I’m sure they are also discussing whether they will come to the talks or not. We are willing to negotiate whenever they want to negotiate. ” Has there been any direct communication from the government with the agitators? In response to such a question from BBC Bengal, the Law Minister said, “There is no question of direct communication.” That message has been given through the media. We have said this publicly.” The agitators have already rejected the government’s call for talks. On the other hand, the conflict continues. BBC Bangla has confirmed that 32 people have been killed so far. Among them, 6 people were killed on Tuesday, 25 people on Thursday and one person till noon on Friday. Regarding the conflict, the Law Minister said, “It is sad, no doubt about it. It is very sad. I still strongly believe that this violence was not committed by anti-quota activists. I don’t believe it.” The agitators say that the police are trying to disperse them by using excessive force. “The police did not use any force yesterday. When vandalism occurs, it is the duty of the law enforcement agencies to stop the vandalism,” said the law minister. Why did so many people die on Thursday if the police did not use force? To such a question, the Law Minister said, “I cannot agree with this figure (number). The police did not fire yesterday, no one was killed in police firing.”

BBC BANGLA