At least eight people killed in Bangladesh in clashes between protesters and government supporters

Protests against the government continue in Bangladesh, more than a month after the first demonstrations. Clashes between demonstrators demanding the resignation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and supporters of the ruling Awami League party left at least eight people dead on Sunday, August 4, according to police and hospitals. Three people were killed in Pabna district, two in Rangpur district, two in Munshiganj district and one in Magura district, police officers and hospital doctors told AFP.

The social crisis, largely peaceful at the start, turned into a political crisis from July 16, when the repression caused its first deaths. The demonstrators then demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, in power since 2009 and re-elected in January after an election without real opposition. To restore order, her government notably deployed the army, cut off access to the internet and imposed a curfew. At least 206 people have been killed since the start of the protests in July, most of them victims of gunfire by the security forces, according to a report established by AFP based on police and hospital data.