At least 27 people were killed and scores injured in clashes in Bangladesh on Sunday as tens of thousands of protesters called for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters, prompting the interior ministry to declare an indefinite nationwide curfew for the first time during the current protests. The government has also shut down internet services in response to the unrest.
Critics of Hasina accuse her government of using excessive force to suppress the movement, which began after Hasina won a fourth straight term in January elections boycotted by the main opposition party. Hasina labeled the protesters as terrorists seeking to destabilize the nation and urged citizens to suppress them.
During the clashes, at least five people were killed in different districts, including construction workers and ruling party activists. The violence spread nationwide, with clashes reported in several districts. The government shut down high-speed internet services for the second time during the protests, and social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were inaccessible.
Last month, violent protests erupted led by student groups opposing government job quotas. The protests resulted in over 150 deaths, thousands injured, and thousands arrested. While the protests calmed after the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas, students returned to the streets demanding justice for those previously killed. The recent clashes mark the biggest challenge for Hasina’s government since the January elections.
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