Bangladesh enforces high security alert as deadly protests escalate. Stay updated on the situation and the government’s response to the unrest.
The entire country of Bangladesh is under a High Security Alert due to ongoing violent clashes between police and students.
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is experiencing an almost complete blackout in internet access and phone lines are also unavailable.
Several thousand protestors rampaged through state broadcaster BTV on Thursday evening, causing havoc by vandalizing furniture and smashing windows and lights before setting sections of the building ablaze.
According to the BBC, Bangladesh’s information minister stated that broadcasts had ceased and a majority of staff members had evacuated from the facility situated in the capital.
Earlier, a social media post on BTV’s verified Facebook page alerted that “numerous” individuals were confined within the facility. The plea for assistance from fire services to extinguish the inferno was also made in said post.
An anonymous senior journalist from BTV revealed to the BBC that they had no choice but to evacuate due to the extreme circumstances. Unfortunately, some of their coworkers were left behind and there is uncertainty about what happened to them.
On Wednesday night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a televised appeal for peace amidst the ongoing violent protests that have resulted in a death toll of at least 19 individuals and numerous injuries. It is suspected that there may be additional casualties.
Rallies held by students have called for changes to a system that sets aside one-third of public sector jobs exclusively for the family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war for independence against Pakistan during 1971.
The students are advocating for recruitment that is based on merit, claiming the current system to be discriminatory.
In an effort to calm the student demonstrations, the government took measures on Thursday by disabling mobile internet service nationwide.
According to news agency AFP, the protests resulted in the deadliest day yet with a total of 32 fatalities reported from hospital records.
Thirteen deaths were confirmed on Thursday by the BBC’s Bengali service, bringing the total number of fatalities to 19. One of those who lost their life was a journalist for Dhaka Times, aged 32.
In her television appearance on Wednesday, Sheikh Hasina denounced the fatalities of protesters as “murder,” yet protest organizers disregarded her statements and declined dialogue offers from the government.
According to Nahid Iqbal, a prominent figure in the anti-quota demonstration, due to the sheer number of individuals killed by the government within one day’s time, it is not feasible for us to engage in any debates under these circumstances.
“The Prime Minister is hypocritically condemning violence while simultaneously utilizing pro-ruling party groups and the police to attack students,” stated 22-year-old student Aleem Khan in an interview with BBC.
On Thursday, officers resorted to using tear gas and rubber bullets while students formed human blockades on the streets.
According to a network official, the students who stormed BTV had previously set fire to a police station.
According to the official’s statement to AFP, “After seeking shelter at the BTV office, police officers were pursued by demonstrators who subsequently wreaked havoc on the premises.”
BBC Bengali talked to a bunch of medical students who had sought refuge in the premises of a medical school following an attack by supporters of the ruling party.
Sumi, one of the students speaking to BBC, expressed her intention to protest against discrimination in civil service and also raised concerns about police killing numerous demonstrators.
Despite our peaceful protest, the violent attack from pro-ruling party groups left me fearing for our lives.
