Protests On The Riots Of Work Quota, Bangladeshi Government Breaks Internet Access

JAKARTA - Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Bangladesh over a job quota protest.

Meanwhile, authorities cut off some mobile internet services due to clashes that killed six people and injured hundreds more this week indicating no sign of easing.

Shops and offices are open in the capital Dhaka, but the number of buses on the road is less, due to calls for a national closure from students demanding the abolition of the reserve quota of 30 percent did not receive much response.

Police fired tear gas to disperse students throwing stones blocking major highways in the southern port city of Badminton when mobile services were suspended in most South Asian countries.

"The mobile internet has been temporarily suspended due to various rumors and unstable situations created on social media," Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of Junior Information Technology, told reporters.

"The service will be restored once the situation returns to normal," he continued.

The protests are the first significant challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration since she won her fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Angry at the high unemployment of young people, with nearly 32 million people losing their jobs or education among the 170 million population, students are pushing for the abolition of a 30 percent reservation quota for the family of freedom fighters.

Sporadic clashes reportedly occurred in several places when demonstrators blocked major highways.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said the riot police were involved in a fierce battle with protesters in several places in Dhaka.

Authorities have closed all state and private universities indefinitely starting Wednesday, July 17 and sent riot police and Border Guard paramilitary forces to university campuses to maintain order.

In his speech on Wednesday, PM Hasina promised his government would form a judicial panel to investigate deaths after police fired bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.