Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Over Controversial Government Job Quotas

On Friday, three people died in Bangladesh as police responded to persistent student-led protests against government job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings. Telecommunications were disrupted and train services suspended nationwide. The unrest, driven by anger over job quotas and economic issues, has caused widespread violence and fatalities.

Three people were killed in Bangladesh on Friday as police cracked down on unrelenting student-led protests against government job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings, local media said. Police fired tear gas to scatter protesters in some areas, Reuters journalists reported. One reporter noted numerous fires and rising smoke across the capital Dhaka.

Telecommunications were disrupted, and television news channels went off the air. Authorities had cut some mobile phone services the previous day to control the unrest. Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported that train services were suspended nationwide as protesters blocked roads and clashed with security officials.

The protests, which began over controversial quotas reserving 30% of government jobs for independence fighters' families, have been fueled by high youth unemployment. The violence has reopened sensitive political faultlines. International rights groups criticized the suspension of services and security forces' actions. The European Union called for a peaceful resolution.