DHAKA – A day after violent skirmishes that left six people dead and numerous more injured, police in the nation used tear gas and rubber bullets to scatter students protesting against the government’s job quota system on Wednesday. In response to protests over public sector job quotas, which include a 30% reservation for relatives of warriors from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan, authorities have ordered the permanent closure of all public and private universities as of Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later declared that a judicial commission would be established by the government to look into the killings. The violence on Wednesday started when security personnel were stationed outside the campus of Dhaka University and students began chanting, “We will not let our brothers’ blood go in vain.” As the students marched in processions carrying coffins in remembrance of those slain, police opened fire on them with tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades, according to protest organizer Nahid Islam.
With roughly 32 million young Bangladeshis unemployed or underemployed out of the country’s total population of 170 million, the quotas have infuriated students who are already dealing with high rates of youth unemployment. Following her refusal to accede to the demands of the demonstrators, Prime Minister Hasina—daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan—saw an upsurge in protests. Protesters against quotas participate in a coffin rally at Dhaka’s University of Dhaka.
First of 11 Items On July 17, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, people flee as police use tear gas during a coffin rally of anti-quota protestors at the University of Dhaka. The rally took place the day after a conflict between anti-quota protestors and Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student arm of the ruling party.
A day after the fight with the student branch of the ruling Bangladesh Chhatra League, people flee as police use tear gas during a coffin procession of anti-quota protestors at the University of Dhaka. Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Continue reading This week, clashes between thousands of anti-quota demonstrators and supporters of the ruling Awami League party’s student section nationwide turned the protests violent. According to authorities, fighting on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of six persons, including at least three students.
She had referred to individuals who were against the quota as “razakar” before the murders, a euphemism for people who were thought to have worked with the Pakistani army in the 1971 conflict. However, she declared in a speech to the country on Wednesday that “I think our students will get justice.” They won’t be let down.” She pledged her complete support to the families of those deceased and announced a judicial probe. With the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotting the January election, Hasina won a fourth consecutive term. This is the first major threat to her leadership since the demonstrations.
