79 Killed, Hundreds Injured as Fresh Violence Erupts in Bangladesh, India Asks Citizens to ’Stay Alert’

Dhaka: A fresh wave of violent protests erupted in Bangladesh on Sunday, leading to the deaths of at least 79 people and injuring hundreds more.

In response to the escalating violence, the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh has issued an urgent advisory for Indian nationals in the country, particularly in the Sylhet region, urging them to stay vigilant.

The advisory, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), by the Indian Embassy in Sylhet, instructed, “All Indian nationals including students living in the jurisdiction of Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet are requested to be in touch with this office & are advised to stay alert.” Additionally, a helpline number has been provided for emergencies: +88-01313076402.

The violence erupted as police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. These protests were met with counteractions from supporters of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League, leading to widespread clashes.

According to Bangladeshi media reports, at least 79 individuals were killed across 13 districts, including Feni, Sirajganj, Munshiganj, Bogura, Magura, Bhola, Rangpur, Pabna, Sylhet, Comilla, Joypurhat, Dhaka, and Barisal.

In response to the unrest, the Home Ministry has imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm today. To curb the spread of misinformation, social media platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram have been temporarily shut down. Additionally, mobile operators have been instructed to disable 4G mobile internet services.