Daily Times

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged students Sunday to go home as police fired tear gas at teenage protesters during an eighth day of unprecedented demonstrations over road safety which have paralysed parts of Dhaka.

Students in their tens of thousands have brought parts of the capital to a standstill since two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus.

The unrest quickly spread beyond the capital and authorities have shut down mobile internet services across swathes of the country, officials and local media said.

On Saturday the protests took a violent turn in Dhaka’s Jigatala neighbourhood, with more than 100 people injured as police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators.

A car carrying US ambassador Marcia Bernicat was also attacked by “armed men” but she escaped unscathed, the embassy said.

The violence continued Sunday with police firing tear gas into a large crowd marching toward an office of the ruling Awami League party, an AFP correspondent said.

Dozens of protesters were attacked by people alleged to be ruling party activists, some armed with machetes, in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi neighbourhood.

Twelve were treated at Dhaka Medical Colleague Hospital, police inspector Bacchu Mia told AFP.

A photographer for an international news organisation was among those beaten.

The United Nations said it was worried for the safety of the children and young people caught up in the protests.

“We are deeply concerned about the reports of violence and call on all for calm,” the UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo said.

“The concerns expressed by youth about road safety are legitimate and a solution is needed for a mega city like Dhaka,” she said in a statement.

Hasina warned Sunday that a “third party” could sabotage the protests and put the safety of demonstrators at risk.

“That’s why I request all guardians and parents to keep their children at home. Whatever they have done is enough,” the prime minister said from her office.

Hasina’s warning came as protesters marched towards the scene of Saturday’s clashes chanting “We want justice!”

Police denied they fired rubber bullets or tear gas at the protesters Saturday. However hospital staff said dozens of people had been injured, some seriously, and injuries were consistent with rubber bullet wounds.

The Awami League has denied that its officials beat up students. On Saturday, US ambassador Bernicat’s vehicle was set upon by a mob.

“As she was leaving about 11pm and getting into her car, a group attacked her car,” said rights activist Badiul Alam Majumder, who was hosting the ambassador for dinner.

The US embassy confirmed an official vehicle “was attacked by a group of armed adult men” but the envoy and her team departed unharmed.

Published in Daily Times, August 6^th 2018.