Bangladesh Violence Leaves 39 Dead, Protesters Burn Govt Buildings

Post by : Dr. Amrinder Pal Singh

_{Photo: AFP}

At least 39 people have been killed in Bangladesh as student protests against civil service hiring rules intensified. Police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Dhaka, firing rubber bullets. The demonstrators retaliated, chasing officers to the headquarters of Bangladesh Television (BTV), which they set on fire.

According to a police statement reported by AFP, several government buildings have been torched during the protests. The clashes have caused widespread telecommunications disruptions, with many overseas calls failing to connect and local internet services severely impacted. Websites of several Bangladeshi newspapers were not updating, and their social media accounts remained inactive.

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"The miscreants have already torched, vandalised, and carried out destructive activities," the police statement said, noting damage to the state broadcaster BTV, the national disaster management agency, and various other police and government buildings.

"Our first demand is that the prime minister must apologise to us," said protester Bidisha Rimjhim, 18. "Secondly, justice must be ensured for our killed brothers," she told AFP.

The protests, which have been occurring almost daily this month, demand the end of a quota system that reserves over half of civil service posts for specific groups, including children of veterans from the 1971 liberation war. Critics argue the system unfairly benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling party. Students are protesting against these quotas and rising unemployment rates. With nearly 32 million young people out of work or education in a country of 170 million, protesters are calling for a merit-based system.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a judicial inquiry into the violence. "On whose instigation the conflict started, who for what purpose pushed the country to an anarchic situation, will be investigated and found out," she said. She also condemned those exploiting the movement for "terrorist activities."

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