Bangladesh Shuts Schools And Universities Following Job Quota Protests

Confidence UbaniJuly 17, 20241 Mins read288

Protests over job quota system | Getty Images

Bangladesh has issued an indefinite closure order for all schools, universities, and Islamic seminaries following violent protests that resulted in the deaths of six individuals. The unrest stemmed from weeks of demonstrations against government job quotas in civil services.

On Tuesday, there was a significant escalation in violence across multiple cities, where clashes between protesters, pro-government student groups, and law enforcement turned deadly.

The Ministry of Education cited concerns for student safety as the reason behind the shutdown directive. The violence on Tuesday claimed six lives, including three in Chittagong who suffered bullet injuries amidst clashes. Additionally, 35 others were injured in the port city. In Dhaka, two people lost their lives during clashes involving student factions throwing bricks and blocking roads. There was a severe disruption of traffic also.

Further violence unfolded in Rangpur, where a student was fatally injured during clashes. With key highways blocked by protesters nationwide, authorities responded by deploying the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in major cities like Dhaka and Chittagong to restore order.

The protesters have been demanding an end to a quota system that reserves over half of civil service positions for specific groups, including descendants of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence against Pakistan.

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