Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared students leading a civil disobedience movement as terrorists, calling on citizens to stand against these “terrorists.” This declaration comes amid growing tensions as students across the nation demand Hasina’s resignation and the release of detained students, among other reforms.
The civil disobedience movement escalated quickly, with the first day of protests witnessing clashes in several cities, resulting in at least 50 fatalities and numerous injuries. In response to the escalating violence, the government has implemented a nationwide internet shutdown and imposed a curfew effective this evening.
Prime Minister Hasina has intensified her rhetoric, urging the public to view the protesting students not as typical dissenters but as threats to national stability. “These are not students but terrorists trying to destabilize the country,” she stated in an appeal for public support against the movement.
Amidst the crisis, the Bangladeshi Army Chief has spoken to military officers, affirming the army’s dedication to upholding the state’s stability and protecting the populace. He directed the military to safeguard lives, property, and critical state infrastructures at any cost.
Read: Mass Protests in Dhaka Demand Prime Minister’s Resignation
The protests originally ignited over a government policy reserving 30% of civil service positions for descendants of veterans of the 1971 war, leading to significant unrest. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the controversial quota system, the protests have intensified, with students demanding further governmental concessions and releasing arrested demonstrators. The movement has declared readiness to extend their civil disobedience nationwide unless their conditions are met.
