٠٠:٠٤:١٩Protests turned violent on Wednesday in Dhaka as demonstrators clashed with police following funeral prayers over coffins of those who died during the recent job quota demonstrations.
Footage from the scene shows protesters carrying coffins on their shoulders, chanting slogans, and holding Bangladeshi flags. The situation escalated as demonstrators began throwing projectiles at police officers, who responded with tear gas canisters, causing smoke to rise in the middle of the street.
The unrest comes after six people were killed in protests against the government job quota system, leading to the indefinite closure of schools and universities across Bangladesh. University students have been rallying for days, opposing the system that reserves certain public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Under the current system, a third of public sector positions are reserved for the family members of those classified as war heroes. Students argue that this system is discriminatory and are advocating for a recruitment process based solely on merit.
Clashes have been reported throughout the week between supporters of the anti-quota movement and opponents, particularly members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the governing Awami League.
Despite Bangladesh's highest court suspending the current quota system last week, protests are expected to continue until the system is permanently abolished.
Protesters clash with police in Dhaka after funeral prayers for job quota demonstration victims
Protests turned violent on Wednesday in Dhaka as demonstrators clashed with police following funeral prayers over coffins of those who died during the recent job quota demonstrations.
Footage from the scene shows protesters carrying coffins on their shoulders, chanting slogans, and holding Bangladeshi flags. The situation escalated as demonstrators began throwing projectiles at police officers, who responded with tear gas canisters, causing smoke to rise in the middle of the street.
The unrest comes after six people were killed in protests against the government job quota system, leading to the indefinite closure of schools and universities across Bangladesh. University students have been rallying for days, opposing the system that reserves certain public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Under the current system, a third of public sector positions are reserved for the family members of those classified as war heroes. Students argue that this system is discriminatory and are advocating for a recruitment process based solely on merit.
Clashes have been reported throughout the week between supporters of the anti-quota movement and opponents, particularly members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the governing Awami League.
Despite Bangladesh's highest court suspending the current quota system last week, protests are expected to continue until the system is permanently abolished.
Protests turned violent on Wednesday in Dhaka as demonstrators clashed with police following funeral prayers over coffins of those who died during the recent job quota demonstrations.
Footage from the scene shows protesters carrying coffins on their shoulders, chanting slogans, and holding Bangladeshi flags. The situation escalated as demonstrators began throwing projectiles at police officers, who responded with tear gas canisters, causing smoke to rise in the middle of the street.
The unrest comes after six people were killed in protests against the government job quota system, leading to the indefinite closure of schools and universities across Bangladesh. University students have been rallying for days, opposing the system that reserves certain public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Under the current system, a third of public sector positions are reserved for the family members of those classified as war heroes. Students argue that this system is discriminatory and are advocating for a recruitment process based solely on merit.
Clashes have been reported throughout the week between supporters of the anti-quota movement and opponents, particularly members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the governing Awami League.
Despite Bangladesh's highest court suspending the current quota system last week, protests are expected to continue until the system is permanently abolished.