Violent Protests in Bangladesh Leave Several Dead

Bangladesh:During protests in Bangladesh on Thursday, clashes resulted in at least 17 fatalities, authorities have confirmed. The government has also temporarily suspended mobile internet services to prevent further escalation amid demonstrations against quotas in civil service recruitment.

According to media reports, in Dhaka, clashes involving police and thousands of students wielding sticks and stones claimed the lives of 11 individuals, including a bus driver and a student. Additional casualties were reported in Narayanganj and Chittagong.

Police responded to protesters attempting to set fire to vehicles, police stations, and other institutions with tear gas and rubber bullets, eyewitnesses reported.

Junior Information Technology Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak attributed the temporary internet shutdown to “various rumors and volatile situations” circulating on social media. He assured that services would be restored once normalcy returns.

This unrest stems from weeks of student protests against the government’s quota system for civil service jobs. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has supported the students’ demands, leading to ongoing tensions.

International organizations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, have expressed concerns over the use of force and urged Bangladesh to protect peaceful protesters.