On Sunday, a new wave of violence surged through Bangladesh, including the capital, Dhaka, resulting in more than 97 deaths and hundreds of injuries as student protesters clashed with police and activists from the ruling party. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.

In response to the escalating unrest, the government declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm on Sunday. This is the first time such a measure has been taken during the current protests, which began last month.

The Indian government has issued a travel advisory strongly recommending that Indian nationals avoid traveling to Bangladesh until further notice. Indian authorities in Bangladesh have also advised their citizens to remain vigilant due to the volatile situation.

The protests have posed a significant challenge for Prime Minister Hasina, who returned to power for a fourth consecutive term in January, having ruled for over 15 years. The protesters are unified in their demand for her resignation, putting her government on the brink of collapse.

Indian Government Issues Advisory for Nationals in Bangladesh

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India released an advisory urging Indian nationals to exercise "extreme caution" and restrict their movements. It also recommended avoiding travel to Bangladesh until further notice.

"In view of ongoing developments, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Bangladesh till further notice," the MEA said in the advisory.

"All Indian nationals presently in Bangladesh are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka," it added.

Protests erupted across Dhaka’s central Shahbagh Square and multiple other locations, with street battles spreading to other key cities. Protesters blocked major highways, clashed with police, and confronted supporters of the ruling Awami League.

The protesters, including students and groups backed by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have called for a 'non-cooperation' movement, urging people not to pay taxes, utility bills, or attend work. Protest leaders encouraged agitators to arm themselves with bamboo sticks, as previous protests in July were largely suppressed by the police.

The government has also shut down high-speed internet services as the fresh protests erupted. According to The Daily Star, mobile phone operators received directives to disable 4G services, and social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were inaccessible even via broadband connections.

In Dhaka’s Uttara area, crude bombs were detonated, and gunshots were heard. Protesters attacked offices and establishments that opened on Sunday, including the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, a major public hospital in Dhaka, and torched several vehicles.

The MEA’s advisory included emergency contact numbers for the High Commission of India in Dhaka for Indian nationals in Bangladesh: +8801958383679, +8801958383680, and +8801937400591.

Prime Minister Hasina and her party have blamed opposition parties and the banned right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party for inciting the violence. After a national security meeting, Hasina accused the protesters of being "terrorists who are out to destabilize the nation" and appealed to citizens to "suppress these terrorists with a strong hand."

In a conciliatory move, the Awami League announced that Prime Minister Hasina has requested the release of detained students, particularly those without serious criminal charges like murder and vandalism, addressing one of the key demands of the protesters.

The Bangladesh Army issued a statement affirming their commitment to the people, though it did not explicitly support the protesters. Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated that the "Bangladesh Army is a symbol of the people's trust" and will "continue to stand by the people for the sake of the state." Some former military officers have shown support for the student movement, with ex-Army Chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan changing his Facebook profile picture to red in solidarity.

The protests began over a controversial quota system reserving 30 percent of government jobs for families of Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence veterans. Despite the Supreme Court reducing the quota to 5 percent, with 3 percent for veterans' relatives, the unrest continued, fueled by demands for accountability for alleged excessive force by the government. The violent agitations have resulted in at least 200 deaths nationwide, with Dhaka being the epicenter.