At least 232 people were killed in incidents of nationwide violence in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on Monday, media reports said on Thursday. With this, the death toll has risen to 560 so far since the anti-reservation protests began in mid-July.
Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country following weeks of violent student protests against her rule.
According to the Prothom Alo newspaper, by Wednesday evening, a total of 232 people had died since Hasina was ousted from power.
Earlier, about 328 people were killed in clashes during the agitation over the reservation system in government jobs from July 16 to August 4. Overall, about 560 people were killed in the last 23 days.
As of Wednesday, 21 more people have died. Most of the 232 people died on Tuesday. Some of them died during treatment.
About 209 prisoners escaped from the high-security Kashipur jail in Ghazipur on Tuesday. The jail security personnel opened fire to prevent the prisoners from escaping. Jail sources said that six people, including three terrorists, died in the incident.
The Police Headquarters has requested everyone to cooperate with the police personnel so that they can return to their workplace.
Security concerns have gripped the country since Hasina’s ouster, with police refraining from work, citing fears for their safety amid reports of deadly attacks on security personnel.
The call was made through a brief message sent from the police headquarters on Thursday morning.
Earlier on Wednesday, newly-appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Mainul Islam directed policemen across the country to take charge at their respective workplaces within 24 hours.
There is no traffic police on the roads for the last three days. For the last three days, students and representatives of other voluntary organizations have been working as traffic police on the roads of the capital.
Meanwhile, two leaders of Hasina’s Awami League were detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the Darshana ICP check post in Chuadanga while they were trying to flee the country.
Rajshahi City Corporation ward councilor and Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami League general secretary Rajab Ali was detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the Darshana ICP check post in Chuadanga while trying to flee the country along with his associate Zakir Hossain.
On Wednesday morning, when the two tried to enter India, BGB personnel became suspicious of them. They were detained and questioned, during which they admitted to wanting to flee the country.
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