Anti-government protests have ignited violent clashes across Bangladesh, involving police and university students.
Over 150 people have lost their lives, and some have shared their harrowing experiences with the BBC.
A student in Dhaka recounted how a peaceful rally was disrupted by police attacks.
“On that day, we just wanted to do a peaceful rally, but the police ruined the whole environment before we could do anything,” she said.
Another student leader, now in hospital, detailed being blindfolded and tortured by individuals claiming to be police.
Medical personnel have been overwhelmed, with an emergency doctor describing how dozens of young people with gunshot wounds flooded the department during the height of the violence.
The government blames political opponents for the unrest, which erupted following the imposition of quotas on government jobs—most of which have now been revoked by Supreme Court orders.
Allegations of excessive force by security forces have also emerged.
A nationwide internet blackout since Thursday has limited information flow, though partial connectivity was restored on Tuesday night for essential sectors like banks, tech firms, and media outlets.
This violence marks a significant challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who began her fourth consecutive term in January after a contentious election boycotted by major opposition parties.
Why the Outrage?
Raya (a pseudonym), a student at BRAC University, told BBC Bangla she first joined the protests on 17 July, but clashes with police turned violent the next day.
“Police attacked students by throwing tear gas shells after 11:30am.
At that moment, a few students picked up those tear gas shells and threw them back towards the policemen,” she described.
Later, police used rubber bullets and trapped students on their campus, preventing them from taking the injured to the hospital.
On 19 July, the violence peaked, with most fatalities occurring that day.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police at Natun Bazaar near Rampura, close to a secure district housing numerous embassies.
Protesters threw bricks and stones while police responded with shotgun fire, tear gas, and sound grenades.
A helicopter also fired from above.
Hospitals were inundated with injured individuals, many arriving drenched in blood.
Emergency departments were swamped with patients, prompting doctors to transfer critically injured individuals to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
“We referred critically injured patients to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as we could not manage them here,” one doctor, speaking anonymously, told BBC Bangla.
Another doctor described how for a few hours, it seemed like every other minute someone injured arrived.
The situation worsened by Friday evening, leading to a nationwide curfew and the deployment of the army.
Nahid Islam, a student leader, went missing after Friday’s violence.
His father reported he was taken from a friend’s house at midnight on Friday and reappeared more than 24 hours later.
Nahid described being interrogated and tortured by individuals claiming to be detectives.
Information Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat stated the incident would be investigated but suggested possible sabotage to discredit the police.
The fatalities also include individuals with no apparent connection to the protest movement.
Maruf Hossain, 21, was shot in the back while job hunting in Dhaka.
His mother had warned him to stay indoors during the protests.
Selim Mandal, a construction worker, died in a fire at his worksite after violence erupted.
Hasib Iqbal, 27, died in the violence, although his family is unsure how.
His father, Mr. Razzaq, found black marks on Hasib’s chest despite the death certificate stating asphyxiation as the cause of death.
Mr. Razzaq does not plan to file a police complaint, stating, “My only son, I never dreamed of losing him like this.”
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