Violent student protests in Dhaka lead to 45 deaths; Horrific video surfaces

New Delhi: In Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, the authorities have imposed a ban on all large gatherings and processions as the death toll from violent student protests rises to 45. The protests, which have been escalating over the past week, are centered around grievances with the job quota system. The clashes have been intense.

Escalating violence in Dhaka

The protests began as students expressed their dissatisfaction with the current quota system for public jobs, which allocates 56% of positions to various groups. The violence has spread across the country, with huge clashes reported in Dhaka. According to police, most of the casualties have occurred in the capital. On Thursday alone, 38 people were killed in confrontations between protesters and security forces.

According to reports, over 2,000 injuries nationwide have been reported.  The situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing clashes and confrontations.

Here's the video:

What is government's response?

In response to the crisis, the Bangladeshi government has mobilized the military to protect the residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The military's deployment is aimed to stabilise the situation in Dhaka, which remains at the heart of the protests. Reports from the capital indicate that police fired on processions organized by left-wing parties on Friday, which resulted in additional injuries.

The unrest is not limited to Dhaka; protests have also erupted in Chittagong and Narayan Ganj. To control the situation, both police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across the affected areas.

Watch the video here:

What are students' demands? 

The student protests are primarily driven by opposition to the 56% job quota system, which includes a 30% allocation for the descendants of individuals who participated in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war. The protests have gained momentum, which led to the closure of educational institutions throughout the country. Despite the closures, students remained on their campuses, refusing to leave.

The government has attempted to address the demands by offering to reduce the job quota from 56% to 20%. This proposal was put forward by the ruling Awami League party, but it has been rejected by the protesters. The government has also announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court to reduce the quota as a measure to resolve the crisis.

Watch the video here:

Blackout and communication restrictions in Dhanka

In addition to the violence, Bangladesh is experiencing a near-total information blackout. Internet services, including broadband and mobile connectivity, have been disrupted. Moreover, social media access has been also restricted. Local media outlets have been largely silent. The reason behind this could be due to the government-imposed internet shutdown.

Earlier, protesters set fire to the building of the state-run TV station in Dhaka. The government has announced the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the recent killings and the broader unrest.