Chaos in Bangladesh: Police Clash with Students as Job Quota Protests Turn Deadly
Police Launch Teargas and Rubber Bullets Amid Student Fury
Bangladesh erupted into chaos on Wednesday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up student protests against the controversial government job quota system. The demonstrations follow brutal clashes the day before that left six people dead and dozens injured.
Universities Shut Down Indefinitely Amid Unrest
In a bid to control the spiralling violence, authorities ordered all public and private universities to close indefinitely from Wednesday. The protests rage over a 30% job reservation for families of 1971 independence war fighters — a quota scheme that has inflamed youth anger amid soaring unemployment.
Prime Minister Orders Judicial Probe Into Killings
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced plans to form a judicial committee to investigate the deadly violence. Addressing the nation, she vowed: “I believe our students will get justice. They will not be disappointed.”
“We will not let our brothers’ blood go in vain,” chanted protesters as they carried coffins in a solemn march outside Dhaka University before police intervened with force, according to protest coordinator Nahid Islam.
Protests Ignite Over Job Quotas Amid Youth Unemployment Crisis
- Nearly 32 million young Bangladeshis are out of work or education, fueling outrage.
- Students accuse the quota system of blocking merit-based recruitment to coveted government jobs with perks.
- Violence escalated after clashes between anti-quota demonstrators and ruling Awami League party supporters.
- Hasina had previously called protesters “razakar,” a term for alleged war collaborators, but later softened her tone promising full support to victims’ families.
Nation on Edge as Political Unrest Deepens
The protests mark the biggest threat to Hasina’s government since her fourth consecutive term began in January. Experts blame stagnant private sector job growth for desperate competition over cushy public sector employment.
Widespread unrest saw students block major bridges, triggering massive traffic jams, while police fired tear gas to disperse stone-throwing activists in Dhaka and across the country.
