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Dhaka: At least five individuals were reported deceased and numerous others were injured across Bangladesh due to student protests against a government job quota system, leading to nationwide unrest.
Students demonstrating clashed with both pro-government activists and police forces, with reports of violence emanating from Dhaka, Chattogram in the southeast, and Rangpur in the north. Officials cited by the media confirmed that among the deceased, three were students, one a pedestrian, and the identity of one remains unknown.
The protesters are calling for the abolition of a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for the relatives of veterans from the 1971 war of independence in Bangladesh.
The demonstrators contend that the quota system is unfair and advocate for its replacement with a merit-based system. They allege that the system favours the supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, which spearheaded the independence movement. Leaders of the ruling party, in turn, accuse the opposition of instigating the protests.
Violence initially erupted on Monday at Dhaka University, the nation’s premier institution, resulting in over a hundred student injuries, according to police. The unrest then spread to Jahangir Nagar University in Savar, just outside Dhaka, and continued to be reported in various locations on Tuesday.
The Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported one fatality in Dhaka and three in Chattogram, including the pedestrian. Additionally, reports emerged of a 22-year-old protester’s death in Rangpur, though immediate confirmation of these details was not available.
Despite the growth of job opportunities in the private sector of Bangladesh, government positions remain highly sought after for their perceived stability and benefits. Annually, approximately 3,000 government jobs become available to a pool of nearly 400,000 graduates.
Prime Minister Hasina defended the quota system on Tuesday, asserting that the veterans, revered as “freedom fighters,” deserve utmost respect for their sacrifices during the 1971 conflict, irrespective of their political leanings today.
At Jahangir Nagar University, the situation remains tense as the discourse continues.
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