Three killed in Bangladesh as protests escalate against government quotas
Three people were reported dead in Bangladesh on Friday amidst escalating protests against government job quotas, Reuters journalists confirmed. The unrest, which has gripped the nation for days, intensified with widespread disruptions to telecommunications and media services.
Authorities had previously curtailed mobile services in a bid to quell the turmoil initially sparked by student outrage over controversial job quotas. However, Friday saw a broader disruption, although it was not linked to a global cyber incident.
The government, which has been under pressure to address the protests, had imposed a ban on all public gatherings following earlier deadly clashes that claimed nearly two dozen lives this week.
Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urged support for the demonstrators, alleging arrests of opposition figures and activists. Reuters could not independently verify his claims.
Reports from Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali newspaper, indicated train services were suspended nationwide as demonstrators blocked roads and clashed with security forces. Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in certain areas of Dhaka, where traffic was notably sparse on the Muslim-majority nation’s weekly holiday.
The protests, the largest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent reelection, have underscored deep-seated grievances over high youth unemployment and economic challenges. Analysts suggest the unrest also reflects broader discontent over inflation and foreign exchange reserves.
Telecommunications disruptions on Friday affected internet and international calls, while several news websites and social media platforms remained inactive. State broadcaster BTV and multiple news channels went off the air, attributing the outage to technical issues.
Meanwhile, government websites including those of the central bank and prime minister’s office appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself “THE R3SISTANC3,” which accused the government of silencing dissent.
Thursday’s violence spanned 47 districts and resulted in conflicting casualty reports, with figures ranging from 13 to 32 deaths and thousands injured, according to various sources. The protests have demanded an end to the government’s policy of reserving 30% of jobs for the families of independence-era fighters.
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on August 7 to review the government’s appeal against reinstating the quota system abolished in 2018. Despite the government’s offer for dialogue, protesters have insisted on an end to violent crackdowns before negotiations can commence.
The ongoing unrest poses a significant challenge to Prime Minister Hasina’s administration, which has also grappled with economic repercussions from global events such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Bangladesh recently secured substantial IMF loans aimed at stabilizing its economy and addressing climate change.
