The bodies of at least 29 Awami League leaders and their family members have been recovered from various violence-stricken areas across Bangladesh. This grim discovery follows the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has since fled to India.
The unrest, which stemmed from student protests against a controversial quota system, escalated dramatically, culminating in widespread demands for the 76-year-old leader’s resignation. The chaos intensified after Hasina's departure, with deadly consequences for many associated with her party.
Widespread violence and vandalism
Local reports indicate that the violence has been most severe in Satkhira, where at least ten people were killed in attacks following Hasina’s exit. Homes and businesses of Awami League leaders and activists have been ransacked and set ablaze.
In Cumilla, mobs killed at least 11 individuals, with six deaths resulting from a fire set by arsonists in a three-storey house owned by former councillor Mohammad Shah Alam. Tragically, among the 11 bodies discovered were five teenagers.
Dhaka has not been spared. Parts of the Awami League’s central office in the Gulistan area have been repeatedly set on fire. Looters took advantage of the chaos, making off with furniture, tiles, and other valuables from the burning building.
The office, first torched shortly after Hasina's resignation, was attacked again around midday on Tuesday.
Interim government and continued unrest
Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and subsequent departure have led to further instability. Protesters have stormed her residence, leading to looting and arson on a national scale.
Bangladesh’s army commander, General Waker-uz-Zaman, has announced the formation of an interim government. He called for an end to the violence and assured the public that the new administration would investigate all deaths resulting from the protests.
The initial protests, which began in early July, were sparked by demands to abolish job quotas favoring relatives of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence. These demonstrations quickly escalated into riots, with anti-government protests flaring up again on August 4.
The Daily Star reports that at least 10,000 people have been arrested since the riots began. Meanwhile, some western new agencies cites local police and medical sources estimating that at least 350 people have died in the ongoing unrest.
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