Bangladesh Faces Major Disruptions Amid Nationwide Shutdown; Two Dead in Violent Clashes
Dhaka, July 18, 2024 – Bangladesh is gripped by a nationwide ‘complete shutdown’ today as quota reform activists stage a day-long protest against recent violent crackdowns on students and demand changes to government job quota policies.
Shutdown Grips Nation
The protest has effectively paralyzed normal life across the country, with intercity travel and public services severely disrupted. Demonstrators have blocked major highways, including the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Barishal, and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar routes. In Narayanganj, activists barricaded the Chittagong Road area on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway around 11 a.m. They reportedly clashed with Chhatra League members, who were allegedly sent to disrupt the protest. The confrontation saw protesters setting fire to a motorcycle left behind by the fleeing Chhatra League activists.
Violent Clashes Lead to Fatalities
The situation has escalated into violence, with clashes erupting across several areas in Dhaka. Reports confirm that two people have been killed. Dulal Matbor, a Hiace driver, was fatally injured during the turmoil in the Badda area, while another individual died in a confrontation between Northern University students and police in Uttara.
The unrest began early this morning at Brac University’s Merul Badda campus, where police clashed with students. The disturbances quickly spread to other parts of Dhaka, including Uttara, Badda, Mirpur-10, Shonir Akhra, Mohakhali, and Dhanmondi-27. Police deployed rubber bullets and tear gas, resulting in multiple injuries among students, as seen in video footage from the scene.
Communication Breakdown
Residents in Dhaka and nearby regions have reported significant disruptions to mobile data services since this morning, compounding the difficulties faced by those affected by the protests.
The nationwide shutdown, organized by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, underscores growing tensions over quota reforms and the government’s response to student activism. As the day progresses, the situation remains fluid, with ongoing clashes and disruptions continuing to impact daily life across the country.
