Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina 'leaves for safer place' as thousands march to Dhaka

A day after deadly clashes in Bangladesh killed nearly 100 people, protesting students in the South Asian country marched to the capital Dhaka on Monday (Aug 5) in defiance of a nationwide curfew imposed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. The prime minister has reportedly left for a safer place as local TV broadcasts showed protestors storming inside the prime minister's residence.

The protesting students are calling upon the government to resign.

At least 91 people were killed and hundreds injured on Sunday (Aug 4) in a wave of violence that swept across Bangladesh.

The unrest began as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters. In response to the escalating violence, a nationwide curfew was imposed starting Sunday evening, the railways suspended services, and the country's vast garment industry was shut down.

The protests and violence, which began last month, were initially sparked by student groups demanding the abolition of a controversial quota system in government jobs. However, the demonstrations quickly escalated into a broader campaign calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who secured her fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition.

Sunday's death toll, which included at least 13 policemen, marked the highest single-day fatalities from any protests in Bangladesh's recent history. This surpassed the 67 deaths reported on July 19 when students took to the streets to protest the quota system.

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Since the violence erupted, at least 300 people have died, according to a report from the French news agency AFP on Monday.

The Bangladesh army urged everyone to obey the curfew rules.

"The Bangladesh army will perform its promised duty in line with the Bangladesh constitution and existing laws of the country," it said late on Sunday (Aug 4).

"In this regard, the people are requested to abide by the curfew as well as give full cooperation to this end," it said, adding that the curfew was imposed to ensure the security of people's lives, properties and important state establishments.

(With inputs from agencies)