Protests continue in Bangladesh: Prime Minister calls students for talks

According to The Daily Star, hundreds of students gathered in the capital, Dhaka, today to highlight the deaths resulting from the "government job quota decision" protests. Protesters held signs reading, "Why were my brothers killed?"

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed has called for an end to the violence and clashes that started with the "government job quota decision" protests. Hasina stated, "I want to sit with the protesting students and listen to them. I do not want conflict."

The Rangpur Police announced the suspension of two police officers in connection with the death of a student during the "government job quota decision" protests on July 16.

Background

Protests in Bangladesh began following the decision to allocate government job quotas to the children of those who served in the 1971 Independence War.

Bangladesh's Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal reported that 147 people had died in the protests, while media reports indicated that the death toll had exceeded 200.

Approximately 2,000 people gathered in various locations in Dhaka in July to mourn those who died in the protests. Police surrounded the demonstrators, who were protesting the government with slogans.

In the Uttara area of the capital, police confronted protesting students, using tear gas and stun grenades.

During the protests highlighting the "deaths, detentions, assaults, and disappearances" related to the "government job quota decision," clashes between students and security forces resulted in the deaths of one police officer and one protester, with more than 100 people injured.