Bangladesh Closes Campus After Bloody Demonstration Protests Work Quota

UNSPLASH/EV ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Bangladesh announced it would close all state and private universities indefinitely starting today after student protests against the government's quota system turned into a deadly tragedy. Six people were killed and dozens injured.

The South Asian nation has been rocked by weeks of protests over a job quota in the public sector, covering 30 percent of reservations for members of the family of independence fighters from Pakistan's 1971 Independence War.

This sparked anger among students facing the high unemployment rate of young people, with nearly 32 million Bangladeshi youths not working or attending school out of a total population of 170 million people.

As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, July 17, demonstrations escalated after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to comply with the protesters' demands, arguing the court proceedings were ongoing, and calling those opposing the quota a "racakar" - a term used for those suspected of cooperating with Pakistani soldiers during the 1971 war.

The protests turned violent this week as thousands of anti-coup protesters clashed with student wing members from the ruling Awami League party across the country. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.

Six people, including three students, were killed in clashes on Tuesday, police said.

"We immediately call on the Bangladeshi Government to immediately ensure the safety of all peaceful protesters and proper care for all those injured," Amnesty International said in a post on X.

Authorities deployed antihuru-hara police, along with Bangladesh Border Guard paramilitary forces, on university campuses across the country to maintain law and order.

On Tuesday night, the University Grant Commission ordered all universities to close and instruct students to immediately vacate the location for security reasons.

High schools, universities and other educational institutions were also closed.

Nahid Islam, coordinator of anti-coota protests, said students would hold a procession on Wednesday with a coffin in solidarity with those who lost their lives.