Bangladesh on high alert: Govt buildings torched, hundreds of students block roads; see pics

Students have vowed to continue their campaign despite Hasina giving a national address on the now-offline state broadcaster seeking to calm the situation. (Photo: AP)

"The government has killed so many people in a day that we cannot join any discussions in the current circumstances," said Nahid Iqbal, a leader of the anti-quota protest. (Photo: AP)

The clash has killed at least 39 people with the toll expected to rise further after reports of clashes in nearly half of the country's 64 districts. (Photo: AP)

The protesters described the demonstration as peaceful, but expressed feeling threatened by the aggressive actions of pro-ruling party groups and police, fearing for their safety. (Photo: AP)

Private broadcaster Independent Television said 702 people had been injured during Thursday's clashes including 104 police officers and 30 journalists. (Photo: AP)

A High Security Alert has been issued for the whole of Bangladesh, as violent clashes between students and police continue. The capital Dhaka is in the midst of a near-total internet blackout, with phone lines also down. (Photo: AP)

A police statement issued after a near-total shutdown of the nation's internet said protesters had torched, vandalised and carried out "destructive activities" on numerous police and government offices. (Photo: AP)

"So far, we have shown maximum restraint," police said, adding if the destructive activities continued, they would "be forced to make maximum use of law". (Photo: AP)

Communication services were widely disrupted in Bangladesh, with authorities cutting some mobile services to try to quell the unrest but the disruption spread across the country. (Photo: AP)

"About 100 policemen were injured in the clashes yesterday," Faruk Hossain, said a spokesman for the capital's police force, "Around 50 police booths were burnt". (Photo: AP)