In a dramatic escalation of protests in Bangladesh, students set fire to the country’s state broadcaster on Thursday, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the network attempting to quell the violence that has resulted in at least 32 deaths. The protests, primarily fueled by demands for reform in civil service hiring practices, have engulfed Dhaka and other cities in chaos.
Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with riot police, who retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas, but were eventually overpowered. The enraged crowd then targeted the Bangladesh Television (BTV) headquarters, setting its reception building and several vehicles on fire. According to a BTV official, numerous individuals were trapped inside the burning building, though another station official later confirmed their safe evacuation.
In response to the unrest, the government has ordered the indefinite closure of schools and universities, and police efforts to restore order have intensified. Prime Minister Hasina had appeared on BTV the previous night, condemning the “murder” of protesters and vowing to hold the perpetrators accountable, irrespective of their political affiliations. However, her call for calm did little to pacify the situation, as clashes resumed and intensified.
Thursday’s violence alone resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, in addition to the seven killed earlier in the week. Hospital sources reported that police weaponry caused approximately two-thirds of these fatalities. One official at Uttara Crescent Hospital in Dhaka, who requested anonymity, detailed that among the dead were two students with rubber bullet injuries and five individuals with gunshot wounds. Nearly 1,000 others were treated for various injuries, many of which were also caused by rubber bullets.
The protests have not only seen student casualties but have also claimed the life of a journalist. Mehedi Hasan, a reporter for Dhaka Times, was killed while covering the clashes in Dhaka, according to Didar Malekin of the online news outlet.
Violence has spread across multiple cities, with riot police confronting protesters who set up human blockades on roads and highways. Notably, helicopters were used to rescue 60 police officers trapped on the roof of a building at Canadian University, which saw some of the fiercest clashes in Dhaka.
The protests, initially sparked by opposition to a quota system in civil service hiring that reserves over half the posts for certain groups, have evolved into a broader expression of dissatisfaction with Hasina’s government. Critics argue that the quota system disproportionately benefits children of pro-government factions, particularly veterans of the 1971 liberation war, and excludes qualified candidates. Hasina’s administration, accused of autocratic tendencies and human rights abuses, has faced mounting pressure as calls for her resignation grow louder.
Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh expert at the University of Oslo, noted that the protests have expanded beyond the quota issue to challenge Hasina’s leadership. “They are protesting against the repressive nature of the state,” he told AFP, adding that students are labeling her as a dictator.
Amid the turmoil, mobile internet services were disrupted nationwide on Thursday, following a blockade of Facebook two days prior. Junior telecommunications minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak confirmed the government’s order to cut off mobile internet, citing the spread of “rumours, lies and disinformation” through social media as the reason for the restrictions.
Clashes have also involved students allied with Hasina’s ruling Awami League, who have engaged protesters with bricks and bamboo rods. Amnesty International has condemned the use of unlawful force by Bangladeshi security forces, as video evidence from recent clashes corroborates these claims.
Prime Minister Hasina’s national address did not specify who was responsible for the deaths, but descriptions from hospital officials and protesters indicate that police actions, involving supposedly non-lethal weapons, have contributed significantly to the casualties. As the situation remains volatile, the government’s response and the protesters’ resilience continue to shape the course of this intense conflict.
