International media reports indicate that the death toll from student anti-government protests in Bangladesh has risen to 105, with hundreds more injured.
On Friday, July 19, Agence France-Presse reported that dissatisfied students attacked a prison, freeing hundreds of inmates in the city of Narsingdi and setting the facility on fire.
The student anti-government protests in Bangladesh began weeks ago following the announcement of a quota system for government jobs, which the protesters deem “discriminatory” and favoring the ruling party.
Reports indicate that many protesters have been killed in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and in the city of Rangpur. In response, the government has imposed curfews, deployed additional military forces, and closed universities.
Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the suppression of protesters in Bangladesh, calling the attacks on protesting students “shocking and unacceptable.”
He urged all parties to exercise “restraint” and emphasized that “Bangladesh’s political leaders must work with the country’s youth to find solutions to current challenges and focus on growth and development. Dialogue is the best and only way forward.”
Notably, the quota system for government jobs, which sparked widespread protests in Bangladesh, allocates 30% of these jobs to families of the 1971 war veterans who contributed to the country’s independence from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, millions in the country, over 170 million people, are complaining about the high unemployment rates among students and young people.
The escalation of anti-government protests in Bangladesh highlights significant discontent among the youth regarding government policies and employment opportunities.
The international community’s condemnation and calls for dialogue underscore the need for a peaceful resolution that addresses the concerns of the young population, aiming for long-term stability and development in the country.
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