Violent Student Protests in Bangladesh Leave 105 Dead Amid Quota Controversy
At least 105 people have been killed in Bangladesh during a week of violent student protests against government job quotas. According to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, 52 people were killed in the capital on Friday. The unrest saw protesters storming a jail in Narsingdi, freeing inmates, and setting the facility on fire, while police struggled to maintain control with rallies continuing in Dhaka despite a ban on public gatherings and an internet shutdown.
Police chief Habibur Rahman announced a ban on rallies, processions, and public gatherings in Dhaka to ensure public safety. However, clashes continued, with police and protesters engaging in confrontations across the city. Protester Sarwar Tushar, injured in the violence, called for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, blaming the government for the deaths. Protesters also torched and vandalized police and government offices, including the headquarters of Bangladesh Television, which remains offline.
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The protests have focused on ending a quota system that reserves over half of civil service positions for specific groups, including children of 1971 liberation war veterans. Critics argue the system benefits pro-government groups supporting Prime Minister Hasina, who has ruled since 2009. Rights groups accuse her administration of misusing state institutions to maintain power and suppress dissent. In response to the escalating violence, the government has ordered the indefinite closure of schools and universities as police intensify efforts to restore order.
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