Dhaka, July 19, 2024 — Violent student protests in Bangladesh have resulted in at least 32 deaths and over 2,500 injuries as demonstrations continue against the country’s quota system for government jobs. The unrest, which began over a month ago, has seen significant clashes and destruction, including an attack on the state broadcaster’s offices on Thursday.
The protests erupted following the Bangladesh High Court’s decision to reinstate the quota system, reversing a 2018 government move to eliminate it. This decision has fueled outrage among students who argue that the quota system, which reserves jobs for specific groups such as descendants of 1971 liberation war veterans, limits opportunities for the broader population.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent appeal for calm on state television failed to quell the unrest. Her refusal to meet the students’ demands, combined with ongoing court proceedings, has further intensified the violence. Clashes between protesters and the student wing of Hasina’s Awami League party have prompted the police to use rubber bullets, tear gas, and noise grenades in an attempt to control the situation.
In response to the chaos, authorities have suspended metro rail services, cut off railway connections to and from Dhaka, and imposed a near-total internet blackout in several regions. Mobile networks have also been disrupted, and both the Bangladesh police website and the Awami League student wing’s site were temporarily inaccessible.
Educational institutions across Bangladesh have been closed indefinitely as part of the efforts to manage the turmoil. Law Minister Anisul Huq has proposed negotiations with the students, suggesting talks could begin as early as Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hasina has condemned the violence and urged patience until the Supreme Court issues a final verdict on the matter.