Bangladesh: On Sunday, August 4, a new wave of violence in Bangladesh resulted in the deaths of at least 93 people and left more than a thousand injured. The unrest is part of ongoing anti-government protests over job quotas.

The violence erupted on the first day of a student-led non-cooperation movement aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. Clashes between ruling party activists, police, and anti-government protesters occurred in around 20 districts, according to The Daily Star.

In the northern district of Sirajganj, a mob attacked a police station, resulting in the deaths of 13 police officers. Additionally, five people died in clashes in the Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, bringing the total number of deaths in the district to 18, the highest among all affected areas.

As tensions escalated, mobs torched and vandalized the homes of ruling party lawmakers, Awami League offices, police stations, vehicles, prison vans, and hospital buses.

In response to the widespread violence, the government imposed a nationwide curfew and blocked 4G mobile internet access to restore order.

Bangladesh has announced a three-day shutdown of public and private offices, including banks. Despite this, protesting students have planned a long march on August 5, which could lead to further clashes with pro-government forces, reported The Daily Star.

The clashes involved bullets, sharp-edged weapons, and sticks, with many injured suffering bullet wounds. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's assistant press secretary, ABM Sarwer-E-Alam Sarker, stated, quoting her, "No one of those who are now carrying out violence is a student. They are terrorists," as reported by New Age Bangladesh.

The death toll of 93 on August 4 is the highest for a single day since the protests began in mid-July.

India Issues Travel Advisory
The Indian government has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Bangladesh until further notice due to the ongoing violence.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a safety advisory for Indian citizens currently in Bangladesh, urging them to exercise extreme caution amid the ongoing violence. The advisory recommends restricting movements and staying indoors as much as possible. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka.

The MEA has provided emergency contact numbers for assistance: +8801958383679, +8801958383680, and +8801937400591. Indian citizens are encouraged to use these numbers in case of any emergencies or for further guidance.

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