Bangladesh: 72 killed, curfew reimposed after fresh clashes

The Bangladesh government has announced a three-day general holiday on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for ensuring public safety amid the ongoing violent protests across the country.India has asked its citizens living in Bangladesh to be in touch and remain alert after 72 people died in fresh clashes between protesters and supporters of the ruling Awami League. Dozens were also injured in fierce clashes on Sunday.The clashes broke out this morning when protesters attending a non-cooperation programme to demand the government's resignation faced opposition from the supporters of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League activists.
The protests over government jobs quota restarted Sunday with demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Fourteen policemen were among those killed.The Bangladesh Home Ministry decided to impose an indefinite countrywide curfew from 6 pm on Sunday. Prime Minister Hasina said that those engaging in sabotage across Bangladesh in the name of protests are not students but terrorists and asked people to suppress them with a firm hand.Hasina called a meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs at her residence in Ganobhaban from 11 a.m. amid the ongoing nationwide non-cooperation movement called by protesters.The ministers—state ministers, prime minister’s security adviser, secretaries, chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, and Coast Guard—were present in the meeting.