Clashes on the Street of Bangladesh Turn Fatal

Violent protests in Bangladesh over government job quotas have led to at least 150 deaths. Clashes between police and students have overwhelmed hospitals and sparked allegations of brutality. The government has imposed curfews and internet blackouts to control the unrest.

Policemen have fired on university students protesting against the eviction of residential halls from an Islamic organisation’s control, killing at least 150 in Bangladesh, the worst challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration in years. The protests against quotas that were placed on government employment triggered mass protests throughout the country and a curfew backed by thousands of soldiers.

In Dhaka’s capital, what students said was to be a peaceful protest turned violent and the police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and even live bullets at the protestors. Informants speak of deserted streets that look like a war zone: fires, burned cars, and other barriers.

This was common with hospitals where the protesters were taken in a bad state, most of them having been shot by security forces. A doctor who spoke about the matter stated that he had to operate 30 patients within a six hours’ shift, stating that it is ‘frighening even to an experienced surgeon. ’

Some brutality has been reported, such as the accusations of torture by a student leader, Nahid Islam who alleged that he was kidnapped and interrogated by men faking to be detectives. The government has pledged to look into the matter but its spokespersons theorize that the event may be a sting operation aimed at discrediting police forces.

It is not clear all deaths are related to the protests. A few of the deceased, such as 21-year-old job seeker Maruf Hossain and a construction worker Selim Mandal, appear to have been killed while in the wrong place at the wrong time or during related disturbances.

The government has closed down the internet, which has limited the amount of information that is being passed around. Some connections have been restored but these are mostly for the basic needs such as the health sector and other vital services.

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The protests are expected to mount on Prime Minister Hasina who has just been declared winner of her fourth term in a disputed poll held in January this year. Even though most of the job reservations have now been done away with after Supreme Court orders, the issues have not been fully addressed.