Bangladesh is currently facing a high security alert as violent clashes between students and police continue throughout the country. The capital, Dhaka, is experiencing a near-total internet blackout and phone lines are also down. Protestors stormed the state broadcaster BTV, causing damage and setting parts of it on fire. The information minister stated that broadcasts had been stopped and most employees had left the building.
The protests began as students demanded changes to a system that reserves public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans of the country’s war for independence. The students argue that this system is discriminatory and are calling for recruitment based on merit. The government has been trying to quell the protests, but tensions escalated on Thursday, resulting in the deadliest day so far with at least 32 reported deaths.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the protesters’ deaths as “murder,” but protest organizers have rejected government offers of talks. The situation remains volatile, with students creating blockades in the streets and clashes with police using tear gas and rubber bullets.
Protesters have also been attacked by pro-ruling party groups, leading to students seeking shelter in medical colleges. The situation in Bangladesh is tense and ongoing, with concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the protestors and the potential for further violence.
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