Bangladeshi authorities have enforced a nationwide curfew in response to the deadly protests sparked by government job reservation. According to AFP, at least 105 people have died as a result of clashes between student protesters and police.
A police spokesman told AFP that student protestors attacked a prison in the central Bangladeshi district of Narsingdi, freeing hundreds of detainees before setting the facility on fire.
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245 Indians return home through border crossings
Meanwhile, some 245 Indian people returned home after crossing through border crossings in the northeast on Friday, as the protests, which have been ongoing for at least three weeks, became more intense this week.
PM Sheikh Hasina invites students for talks regarding solution
In a televised speech to the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the students for talks to find a peaceful solution to the problem. However, given the current scenario, it remains unclear whether the students will accept the government’s offer.
Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson said the protests were a “internal” affair in Bangladesh. The MEA stated that 15,000 Indians, including 8,500 students, who are now residing in Bangladesh are safe. The administration has assisted the return of 245 Indian citizens, including 125 students.
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Reason for ongoing protests in Bangladesh
The protestors are demanding that the Bangladesh government eliminate the 30% reservation of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
The protests turned nasty when furious people stormed into the country’s state broadcaster and set it on fire. On Friday, news television channels including the state broadcaster BTV abruptly went off the air.
US condemns the violence
The United States also condemned the violence. State department spokesperson Vedant Patel stated, “We need to make sure that any kind of freedom of expression is happening safely and people are free from violence. That’s something we’re continuing to pay close attention to.”
