Bangladesh unrest LIVE | US revokes Hasina’s visa: Reports

The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh on Tuesday climbed to 440, with 100 more deaths reported after Sheikh Hasina fled the country, according to local media, even as efforts were on by the army to bring the situation under control in the violence-hit nation.

Despite the high death toll, there were signs of a return to normalcy on Tuesday, with police and army patrolling the streets, BDNews24.com news portal said, adding that schools were reopened after a long period of closure due to protests against Hasina.

The situation in Dhaka was largely calm on Tuesday after a day of unrest and a night of tension. Buses and other public transport were on the streets and traders were opening shops. Government vehicles were heading to offices. Many battery-run rickshaws plied the roads, it added.

Bengali language daily Prothom Alo reported that at least 109 people were killed in clashes in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, during the anti-discrimination student movement on Monday.

The newspaper earlier reported the death of 98 people till 12 pm on Sunday. Another 16 deaths were reported in the night. The total death toll stood at 114 on Sunday. “With this, the total death toll stood at 440 in 21 days from July 16 to yesterday,” the paper said.

On the first day after the fall of Hasina’s government, a tense atmosphere prevailed at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the paper reported. Attendance of officers and employees in the ministry offices was significantly low, and ministers and Members of Parliament were notably absent. Those who did come to work were filled with fear and anxiety, it added.

The process to release all those arrested in Bangladesh from July 1 to August 5 in relation to the students' protest has started, and many have already been released, Bangladesh media reported.

Bangladeshi President Md Shahabuddin has dissolved the parliament. The Students Against Discrimination had set an ultimatum for the parliament to be dissolved by 3pm on Tuesday.

Concern about violence and instability in Bangladesh has been shared by all across the political spectrum. The government is in continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through diplomatic missions, says EAM Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha.

Sheikh Hasina’s travel plans have hit a roadblock due to certain “uncertainties”, and she is unlikely to move out of India for the next couple of days, PTI has reported citing people in the know.

Hasina (76) is under tight security in an unspecified location. She was set to travel to London from India but is now contemplating other options after the British government indicated she may not get legal protection in the UK against any possible investigation, they said.

The Awami League leader had reportedly planned to travel to London through India and her aides informed Indian authorities about it before she landed in Hindon.

In a statement, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in London on Monday that Bangladesh has seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life in the last few weeks and people of the country “deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events”.

While saying that Hasina’s travel plans have hit certain issues and she may stay in the country for the next couple of days, the people in the know also described the situation as dynamic with no definitive path or clarity on the matter.

Speaking on the situation in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, “Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of security establishments, PM Sheikh Hasina made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi."