The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: At least 93 people were killed and more than a thousand were injured as a fresh wave of violence erupted in Bangladesh on Sunday (August 4) as part of the ongoing anti-government protests over job quota.
On August 4, which was the first day of the student-led non-cooperation movement, ruling party activists and the police clashed with anti-government protesters, in around 20 districts of the country, reported The Daily Star.
As the non-cooperation movement, which aims to mount pressure on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down, began, clashes started taking place between workers of the ruling Awami League and the anti-government demonstrators.
In the country’s northern district of Sirajganj, an angry mob attacked a police station and 13 police personnel were beaten to death. In another incident, at least five people died in clashes in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj. With 18 deaths, Sirajganj has the highest death toll among all other districts from the violence on August 4.
As the violence escalated, mobs also torched and vandalised the homes of lawmakers from the ruling party, Awami League offices, police stations, vehicles of police personnel, prison vans and hospital buses.
The unabated violence forced the government to tighten a nationwide curfew and block 4G mobile internet to subdue the violence.
Bangladesh has announced that public and private offices, including banks will be shut down for three days even as the protesting students announced that they will carry out a long march on August 5, which further increases the chances of potential clashes with pro-government forces, reported The Daily Star.
Bullets, sharp-edged weapons and sticks were used in the clashes involving the police, Awami League workers and the students, with many of the injured persons bearing bullet injuries.
No one of those who are now carrying out violence is a student. They are terrorists,’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s assistant press secretary, ABM Sarwer-E-Alam Sarker, said, quoting her as saying, reported New Age Bangladesh.
The death toll of 93 people on August 4 is the highest on a single day since the countrywide protests had erupted in mid-July.
India issues advisory against travelling to Bangladesh
The Indian government has issued an advisory, urging its citizens to avoid travelling to Bangladesh till further notice due to the ongoing spate of violence in the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs also advised the Indian citizens in Bangladesh to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka with their emergency phone numbers, reported The Indian Express.
The MEA released emergency phone numbers: +8801958383679 +8801958383680 +8801937400591.