A heavy military presence was observed in Dhaka on Monday, a day after violent protests in the Bangladeshi capital resulted in at least 91 deaths and left hundreds injured.
Bangladesh has been gripped by protests and violence that began last month after student groups demanded the scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs. The unrest escalated into a broader campaign calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who secured a fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition.
Sunday’s death toll, which included at least 13 policemen, marked the highest single-day fatality count from protests in Bangladesh’s recent history, surpassing the 67 deaths reported on July 19 during earlier student protests against the quota system.
On Monday, army tanks and police vehicles were seen patrolling the streets of Dhaka, with security forces on foot as well. Civilian traffic was sparse, with only a few motorcycles and rickshaws venturing out. Protesting students have called for a march to Dhaka on Monday, defying a nationwide curfew, to demand Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation.
