Deadly Protests in Bangladesh Over Government Job Quotas; 114 Killed

After at least 114 people were killed during student-led protests this past week in Bangladesh against government job quotas, troops patrolled the empty streets of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, July 20. The government ordered all offices and institutions to remain closed for two days.

According to Reuters, citing health officials, protests continued in some parts of Dhaka on Saturday as well, with at least 4 more people killed in sporadic clashes and shootings by security forces to enforce movement restrictions.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared Sunday and Monday as “general holidays” due to the tense situation, saying only emergency services are allowed to operate. Universities and educational institutions have been shut since last Wednesday.

The nationwide unrest erupted over student anger against the 30% quota in government jobs for families of those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. The government had scrapped this quota system in 2018 but the Supreme Court reinstated it last month. The court has now suspended the ruling following a government appeal and will review the case again.

This is the biggest bout of unrest since Sheikh Hasina’s re-election for a fourth consecutive term, fueled by high youth unemployment which makes up about one-fifth of the population.

Internet and text messaging services in Bangladesh have been suspended since Thursday, cutting off communication with the outside world. Police are cracking down on protesters defying bans on public gatherings. Phone calls to the outside are also facing disruptions, while websites and social media of independent news outlets based in Bangladesh are not being updated.

Hospitals across Bangladesh have reported thousands more injured in the clashes. According to Reuters, police used tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades throughout the week to disperse protesters throwing bricks and stones and setting vehicles on fire.

Restrictions on movement in Bangladesh were eased for just two hours on Saturday afternoon to allow people to buy essentials. Officials said the curbs would continue into Sunday until the government reassesses the situation.