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Violence broke out in many places including the capital Dhaka during a student protest in Bangladesh on Thursday demanding reform in reservation for government jobs. At least 18 more people died and more than 2,500 people were injured in this. With this, the death toll has risen to 25 since the protests began. Eyewitnesses said that the protesters surrounded the government Bangladesh Television building in Dhaka’s Rampura area and damaged its front part. Also, many vehicles parked there were set on fire. Due to this, many employees including journalists got trapped there.
In fact, university students in Dhaka and other cities have been holding rallies for several days against the system of reserving some jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
More than 2500 people injured
Meanwhile, at least 18 people were killed and more than 2,500 people were injured in clashes across the country between protesters, law enforcement agencies and people of the ruling party. Major clashes between protesters and police took place in the North area of the capital where many private universities are located.
Most of the dead are students
The authorities did not immediately release the identity of the deceased, but reports suggest that most of the dead are students. Earlier, six people died on Tuesday. At the same time, another death was reported last night, taking the total number of deaths to 25 since the protests began more than a week ago.
Metro rail closed inside the capital
Due to increasing violence, the authorities had to shut down the railway services to and from Dhaka as well as the metro rail inside the capital from Thursday afternoon. The official news agency reported that the government has ordered the internet to be shut down to thwart the protesters. Along with this, soldiers of the paramilitary force Border Guard Bangladesh have been deployed across the country including the capital. After at least seven people died in several days of demonstrations and violent clashes, the protesters decided to impose a complete shutdown in the country last night.
Paramilitary forces deployed on the streets
Government offices and banks remained open in the country as paramilitary forces Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), anti-riot police and elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed on the streets in Dhaka and other major cities, but attendance was thin due to limited transport. Many offices asked their employees to work from home.
Talks with protesting students
Bus services between Dhaka and the rest of the country also remained suspended and people stayed at home. Protesters say that a large number of meritorious students are being deprived of government services due to the existing reservation system. Law Minister Anisul Haque said that the government has decided to hold a meeting with the protesting students for talks. He said that whenever they agree, we will hold a meeting.
Judicial inquiry committee formed
The law minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday formed a judicial inquiry committee led by High Court Judge Khondker Diliruzzaman to investigate the violence. The protesters accused the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, of attacking their peaceful protest with the support of the police.
