Taking action on the unprecedented escalation Bangladesh government announced a nationwide curfew, according to reports by BBC Bangla.
Government Press Secretary Naeemul Islam Khan said the army would be deployed to the streets in a bid to restore order.
Student protesters in the central Bangladeshi district of Narsingdi stormed a jail and freed hundreds of inmates before setting it on fire, a police officer told AFP,
Bus and train services have reportedly also been halted, while schools and universities across the country have also been shut until further notice.
In Dhaka, police took the unprecedented measure of banning all public gatherings for the day, aiming to prevent further violence amid escalating protests.
Police chief Habibur Rahman explained to AFP, "We've prohibited all rallies, processions, and public gatherings in Dhaka today." He emphasized that this decision was made to ensure "public safety."
Yet student groups continued to march through the streets. Reports indicated that gunfire and stun grenades were heard near universities in Dhaka. Police were reported to have used live ammunition to disperse the crowds, and protesters have accused the police of being responsible for a significant number of the fatalities.
The US Embassy in Dhaka reported over 40 deaths and hundreds to possibly thousands injured, describing the situation as "extremely volatile." International reactions have been swift. The European Union expressed deep concern over the violence and called for a peaceful resolution. Clashes related to the protests were also reported in London.
AzVision.az
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