Reports: At least 21 killed in renewed mass protests in Bangladesh
Fresh protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh have once again resulted in deadly violence. On Sunday, the Jamuna TV channel reported at least 21 deaths in 11 districts during clashes between supporters of the nationalist opposition party BNP and riot police, as well as followers of the ruling Awami League party and its allied organizations. The country's leading daily newspaper, "Prothom Alo", reported at least 18 deaths but noted that reports of new outbreaks of violence were still coming in.
In the Uttara neighborhood of the capital Dhaka, police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of people blocking a major intersection. Protesters stormed buildings and vandalized an office of a non-profit organization where hundreds of activists from the ruling party had gathered. Eyewitnesses also reported that bombs had been detonated and gunshots were heard.
The protests began in July against a quota system that would allocate up to 30% of public service jobs to relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's independence war against Pakistan in 1971. Critics argued that the plan favored supporters of Prime Minister Hasina, whose Awami League led the independence movement. Although the Supreme Court recently significantly scaled back the controversial quota rule, the protests continue. Demonstrators are now demanding accountability for the deaths at the protests, which they attribute to excessive police force, and they are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina.
The "Prothom Alo" newspaper continues to report on new instances of violence related to the protests. Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, the number of deaths in the clashes between opposition parties and riot police is increasing, as stated in the latest reports.
