Fresh violence erupted in Bangladesh as police clashed with student protesters demanding justice for victims of recent unrest. The clashes, which took place in various cities including Sylhet and Dhaka, saw demonstrators attacking police, leading to the use of tear gas to disperse the crowds.
According to reports, more than 200 people have been killed in the violence this month, with the majority of deaths attributed to police firing on protesters. Additionally, nearly 10,000 people have been detained in connection with the protests.
Photos from the city of Barisal show police in riot gear confronting protesters, many of whom are women. The “March for Justice” was organized by the Students Against Discrimination movement, who are protesting against what they see as mass killings, arrests, attacks, and disappearances of students and people.
The protests initially began over attempts to reinstate quotas in civil service jobs for relatives of veterans from the country’s war for independence in 1971. The Supreme Court ruled that only 5% of the roles could be reserved for them, leading to outrage among students who believe the system is discriminatory and are demanding recruitment based on merit.
Organizers of the protests have called for the resignation of six ministers and an apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the deadly clashes. The government, however, has blamed opposition parties for the unrest.
The European Union has postponed talks with Bangladesh on a new cooperation agreement in response to the government’s crackdown on protesters. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the use of excessive force against protesters and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
The cooperation deal was intended to strengthen economic ties between Bangladesh and the EU, the country’s main trading partner. The postponement reflects growing international concern over the escalating violence in Bangladesh and the need for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
