The battle lines have been drawn, and the battlefield is clear. Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka is set to witness a confrontation between protesters demanding the assassination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her loyalists and party men who have come out on the streets to physically confront them. Monday is a crucial day for the direction this battle will take. The leaders of the protesters have called for a ‘March to Dhaka’, and have asked one person from every family to leave for the capital.
“We have decided to postpone the long march to Dhaka, which was scheduled for August 6, by a day to August 5. We are calling on all freedom-loving people across Bangladesh to start their march towards Dhaka. Those who can and are able to do so should leave for Dhaka tonight. Announce from mosques to start their march towards Dhaka. One person from each family should set out on this march to witness history,” Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, made the announcement on Sunday, when Bangladesh was heading towards anarchy and chaos.
The situation worsened dramatically on Sunday, as protests against the Hasina regime broke out in at least two dozen districts. This led to widespread violence and at least 98 people were killed. Following this, the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, the organisation organising the protests, had called for a ‘Dhaka March’ with the aim of ousting the government.
Bangladesh is bracing for a potentially catastrophic day on Monday as student protesters determined to oust the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prepare for what they call “the final battle”. Hasina’s rule is in danger.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman will address the nation at 2 pm. Until then, the army has requested the public to refrain from violence and maintain patience.
The Long March to Dhaka, the ‘Final Battle’
The student-led protests, which began in July against a quota system that provides 30% reservation in government jobs for families of veterans of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, have grown into a wider movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina.
“This is the final battle for us and we are ready for it,” Asif Mahmood said in a video on Sunday.
The current protests were triggered by demands for justice for the victims of the July protests that left more than 200 dead. In addition, widespread discontent against the Hasina government has also found a place in the recent protests.
Undeterred by the government’s harsh response, protesters postponed their “Long March to Dhaka” event by a day.
According to Prothom Alo, students from various educational institutions gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar at around 10 am on Monday morning to join the ‘Dhaka March’ organised by the students on the call of anti-discrimination movement.
“Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them,” the Dhaka-based newspaper reported.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Jatrabari in Dhaka. On the other hand, the police have taken charge in the Jatrabari police station area. According to a report by Prothom Alo, army personnel along with armored vehicles have also been seen there.
Students plan to lay siege to Hasina’s residence Gonobobon
The protesting students say they plan to gather at Gonobobon, the official residence of Prime Minister Hasina, on Tuesday to stage a symbolic protest.
The only demand of the protesting students is that Sheikh Hasina should resign from the post of Prime Minister.
“Sheikh Hasina had said that the doors of the Gonobhubon are open. We appreciate it because she has understood that the doors of the Gonobhubon need to be kept open,” student leader Nahid Islam said from Dhaka’s historic Shaheed Minar on Sunday.
“Our aims, objectives and destination are clear. Victory is our goal. We are still giving time. If the government continues to resort to violence, we want to tell them that we are watching Ganabhaban,” said Nahid, standing with hundreds of students who cheered enthusiastically.
The move is likely to face fierce resistance from security forces, who have already demonstrated a willingness to use bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.
The death toll is likely to rise
Protests across the country on Sunday turned violent, with reports saying 98 people were killed, including at least 14 police officers who were beaten to death.
The violence on Sunday was intense and unprecedented, with clashes between protesters, police and members of Hasina’s ruling party Bangladesh Awami League, its youth wing Jubo League and its student wing Bangladesh Student League spreading across several districts.
According to a report by Dhaka-based Jamuna TV, the protesting students will gather at Dhaka’s Shahbagh Square at 2pm. “It is notable that the ‘March to Dhaka’ programme during the curfew has created anxiety and apprehension among the people,” Jamuna TV reported.
Meanwhile, the Hasina government imposed an indefinite curfew on Sunday evening to control the law and order situation.
The protesting students have shown no intention of slowing down the agitation. If the situation worsens, there is a possibility of even more bloodshed than on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Pratham Alo reported that several Awami League leaders said that party leaders and workers have been instructed to continue their show of strength for two-three days.
Awami League members were seen armed with wooden sticks and knives.
The government has shut down mobile internet services and banned social media platforms amid fears that the ‘Dhaka March’ may intensify further.
“The proposed mass march in Dhaka is worrying and could result in more casualties. The political leadership and security forces must protect the right to life,” the UN Human Rights wrote on Monday.
Complete internet blackout
In an attempt to suppress the protests, the government has suspended mobile internet services and restricted access to social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
“Live metrics show Bangladesh is once again in a state of a near-complete national internet shutdown, following the suspension of social media and mobile services earlier; this is the second blackout incident since protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina over the deaths of hundreds of students,” internet monitoring group NetBlocks posted on X on Monday morning.
The move has been criticised on the grounds that it could escalate violence, as it would limit protesters’ ability to coordinate and communicate peacefully.
“The regime has shut down the internet, isolating the country once again. The internet shutdown from July 18-23 led to a massacre in which more than 250 student protesters were killed. Bangladeshi youth, students and small children are sending SOS to the world out of this fear,” Sultan Mohammad Zakaria, co-founder of the US-based Bangladeshi Diaspora for Justice and Accountability, wrote on X on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the call for a meeting in Dhaka, the Hasina government has also ordered the closure of the Bangladesh Railway system, completely paralyzing the country’s transport network. Even within Dhaka, transport services are scarce, a move seen as an attempt to dissuade people from coming to Dhaka.
Awami League to use more force to suppress protests
A report by Prothom Alo said the ruling Awami League party led by Prime Minister Hasina is determined to show its strength amid the protests.
The party has accused the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party of banned Jamaat-e-Islami party He has decided to join the protests, and vowed to deal strictly with those involved in “vandalism”.
Awami League sources told Pratham Alo that the party decided in a series of meetings on Saturday to suppress the agitation by using its political muscle.
However, it was reported that the Awami League and its men were ready to show force on the streets at midnight on Saturday. “They came with sticks, axes and local weapons. Some were seen using firearms. They were seen clashing with protesters along with law enforcers,” Prothom Alo reported.
Hasina’s party believes that the quota reform movement has been made political by raising a one-point demand, which is the resignation of the prime minister.
Awami League’s Jahangir Kabir Nanak on Sunday said it was the culmination of the party’s patience. “Patience is not a weakness,” he said.
“The Awami League has decided to oppose the anarchists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and [the outlawed] He said, “We will not eliminate Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at any cost.”
The world is watching with bated breath as Bangladesh teeters on the brink of crisis. The “final battle” promised by protesters today could be the most intense and violent confrontation since the 1971 Liberation War, and its outcome is far from certain. What the army chief says and what stance the military takes will be crucial.