In a surge of renewed anti-government protests, at least 97 people, including 14 policemen, were killed on Sunday, with hundreds more injured over the past three days in Bangladesh. The demonstrations have shaken the country, with violence intensifying as citizens voice their dissatisfaction with Sheikh Hasinas government.Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sunday, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas resignation. The chants of down with the autocrat echoed across various parts of the nation as demonstrators called for a change in leadership.Police and student clashesThe protests led to violent clashes between police and students. Security forces resorted to using tear gas and stun grenades in an effort to control the crowds. This recent wave of protests mirrors the unrest from last month, where several individuals were killed and injured. The situation escalated further when students set fire to the state broadcasters building, just a day after Hasina appeared on the network, in an attempt to quell the rising tensions.Triggering factors and student demandsThe protests were sparked last month following a high court ruling that reinstated a quota system for government jobs. This system includes a 30% reservation for families of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, overturning a 2018 decision by Hasinas government to scrap it. In response, the Supreme Court suspended the high courts order, setting a date of August 7 to hear the governments challenge.Escalation of demandsThe demonstrations intensified when Prime Minister Hasina refused to meet the students demands, citing the ongoing court proceedings. The protesting students are demanding the abolition of the quota system, which they argue disproportionately allocates more than half of government jobs to specific groups, including children of 1971 liberation war veterans.The situation remains tense as the country awaits the Supreme Courts decision, with many fearing further escalation of violence.
