Bangladesh student protests killed at least 19 & injured thousands
Rising violence during week prolonged student protests in Bangladesh killed at least 19 people and injured thousands. Some media report the death toll at 32 while the injury rate is more than 2500 people.
Bangladeshi students have been protesting for reform of the quota system for government jobs since last month. This massive protest movement started peacefully but turned violent on July 18, 2024.
The violence started when Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made an appearance on the state-owned television network BTV on July 17 to calm the protestors. Instead, her move fired back and rallies of Bangladeshi students took an even more harsh turn when they set fire to broadcaster BTV.
Weeks have passed since hundreds of university students in Dhaka and other towns launched protests against the public sector job reservation system. It includes a quota for the family of war heroes who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The students are protesting in support of a quota system removal that reserves over half of high-paid government positions for certain groups.
It includes fighter’s children from the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan. Hence, the 2018 quota system undermines the job opportunities for middle-class students in high cadre services.
The widespread student protests in Bangladesh started when Sheikh Hasina decided to abolish the “2018 government job quota.” However, the Bangladesh High Court restored that controversial job quota system while overturning the government decision.
According to the 2018 job quota, one-third (30%) of job seats are reserved for families of 1971 fighters. Following the high court decision, the Bangladeshi government appealed to the Supreme Court to postpone the high court’s order. Supreme Court of Bangladesh has suspended the high court’s order and set a hearing on August 7, 2024.
So when Sheikh Hasina refused to fulfil the demands of students citing legal court proceedings, the student protests in Bangladesh entered a violent phase.
It led to the deadliest conflicts between thousands of anti-quota protestors and members of Hasina’s Awami League party’s student branch.
The police also used noise grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse protestors following government orders. It resulted in the death of at least 19 students and more than two thousand received critical injuries.
There are concerns that the death rate will rise with rising violence from the state and enraged students. Internet service and communication means have completely shut down in Bangladesh. The government has also imposed a ban on rallies.
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