Student protests in Bangladesh began last month demanding a review of government job allocations, and have morphed into a direct challenge to the country's leaders, with tens of thousands taking to the streets and authorities taking an increasingly tough stance.
Nearly 100 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters on Sunday, the deadliest day since protests began in July.
The demonstrations were initially peaceful, but Bangladesh's increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina deployed police and paramilitary forces against the students late last month, sparking widespread public anger at her. As more students and other citizens joined in, the protests became increasingly violent, with government supporters clashing with authorities.
A security crackdown last month left more than 200 people dead. Bangladesh entered a particularly dangerous phase after renewed protests over the weekend and Prime Minister Hasina's party called on supporters to take to the streets after a curfew and communications blackout were eased.
Protesters are demanding Hasina's resignation and have called for a massive march to her home on Monday.
Here's what you need to know about the protests.
How did the protests start?
Students from Dhaka University, the country's top university, began protesting on July 1 and then spread to other top universities and then to the general public. The protests turned violent when some members of the ruling Awami League student wing started attacking demonstrators.
The government has deployed police, paramilitary and anti-terrorism forces to the streets and has closed schools and universities. Authorities said they have slowed internet connections to stop the spread of rumors and protect the public, making it harder for protesters to organize and plan through social media platforms. Police have used rubber bullets, sound grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds, but the protests have continued.
The protests were initially over coveted government jobs and who is eligible to get them. Under an old quota system recently reinstated by the courts, more than half of these positions are reserved for various groups, including families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan. The students said the system was unfair and most posts should be filled on merit, a demand they see as urgent in a country where the pace of job creation has slowed in recent years, according to a World Bank report. Bangladesh is one of the world's least developed countries.
The country's highest court later intervened and reduced the quota to less than 10% of jobs, but by that point the movement had grown beyond that, expanding into widespread protests demanding accountability for the hundreds of people killed in the crackdown and anger over Hasina's increasingly authoritarian style of governance that has stifled free speech and suppressed dissent.
How did the protests unfold?
A crackdown in late July left more than 200 people dead and 10,000 arrested, and protesters temporarily dispersed, but the deaths have only angered protesters, who resumed in earnest on Friday after a curfew and communications blackout were eased.
Tensions appeared hard to contain over the weekend, as protests spun out of control into clashes across the country. At a rally attended by tens of thousands of people on Saturday, protesters called for the resignation of Hasina, who has been in power for the past 15 years.
In response, Hasina's Awami League called on its supporters to join counter-protests and urged people to “curb the anarchists with an iron fist”.
The government has reimposed a night-time curfew and police have announced a ban on all public gatherings. Offices, including courts and banks, have been closed. Mobile internet has been cut off and mobile phone communications have been restricted.
As the unrest spreads, the country's powerful military may help determine what happens next.
