Bangladesh protest: 72 people including policemen killed, Indian citizens urged to practice caution

Dhaka: At least 72 people, including 14 policemen, were killed and hundreds injured on Sunday in fierce clashes between protesters demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and ruling party supporters in different parts of Bangladesh. This occurred on the first day of the non-cooperation movement over a government jobs quota system.

The Bangladesh government has announced a three-day general holiday from August 5 to August 7 to ensure public safety amid the ongoing violent protests across the country.

Following the fatalities, India has urged its citizens residing in Bangladesh to stay in contact and remain vigilant. Intense clashes today also resulted in dozens of injuries.

The protests began over the reintroduction of a quota scheme, scaled back by Bangladesh's top court, that reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups. This move has disappointed graduates who are facing an acute unemployment crisis, with some 18 million young Bangladeshis out of work, according to government figures.

Despite the violence, the protesters do not intend to quit the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and have declared a long march to Dhaka for Tuesday. On Saturday, the student protesters called for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government resigns. The protesters are demanding justice for the more than 200 people killed in last month's student-led demonstrations over government job quotas.

(With inputs from agencies)