New Delhi: Bangladeshi students announced a temporary suspension of their protests on Monday which have escalated into deadly violence. Nahid Islam, the leader of the Students Against Discrimination group, stated, We did not want reform at the expense of so much blood. The group has paused their protests for 48 hours, hoping to see changes from the government during this period.How situation escalateThe protests initially began as a response to the politicized admission quotas for government jobs. These demonstrations quickly grew into some of the most severe unrest witnessed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas time in office. In response to the escalating violence, the government imposed a curfew and deployed soldiers to patrol cities across the country. Moreover, a nationwide internet blackout has been in effect since Thursday.Leaders plea from hospitalNahid Islam, who is currently receiving treatment in a hospital after being beaten by individuals he claims were undercover police, emphasized their demands. We demand that during this period the government withdraws the curfew, restores the internet, and stops targeting the student protesters, he said from his hospital bed.Supreme Courts decisionOn Sunday, the Supreme Court reduced the number of reserved jobs for certain groups, including descendants of freedom fighters from Bangladeshs 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. We started this movement for reforming the quota, Islam explained, but we did not want quota reform at the expense of so much blood, so much killing, so much damage to life and property.163 Dead, over 532 arrestedAt least 163 people have lost their lives in the clashes, including several police officers. Sporadic violence continued on Monday, with four people admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bullet injuries. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police reported that at least 532 people have been arrested in the capital since the protests began, including some opposition leaders from the Bangladesh National Party.Nobel laureate speaks outBangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus urged global leaders and the United Nations to take action to end the violence. There must be investigations into the killings that have taken place already, the 83-year-old said in his first public comments since the unrest began. Yunus, known for his pioneering work in microfinance, has had a contentious relationship with Prime Minister Hasina.
