Dhaka: Violence continues in Bangladesh against the Supreme Court’s order to restore reservation in government jobs. To control this, the government has imposed a curfew across the country. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party, announced the curfew late Friday (July 19). He said that the army has been deployed to control the violence.
On Friday, police and security personnel opened fire on protesters. Media reports said that 105 people have been killed in this. So far 405 Indian students have returned home amid rising tension in Bangladesh. Indian Ministry of External Affairs too have issued advisory for Indian students there in Bangladesh.
According to a report by news agency AFP, protesting students stormed a prison in Narsingdi district on Friday. They set fire there after freeing hundreds of prisoners from the jail.
Earlier on Thursday, hundreds of protesters entered the campus of BTV office and burnt more than 60 vehicles. On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave an interview to BTV. In the interview given, Prime Minister Hasina urged protesting students to come up for talks but this offer was rejected by the protestors who are demanding scrapping off the job quota decision.
At least 105 people have been killed so far in clashes between student protesters and police this week, according to information from hospitals. More than 2,500 have been injured. Independent Television reported 17 deaths on Friday alone. Somoy TV claimed 30 deaths. An Associated Press reporter saw 23 bodies at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Earlier on Thursday (July 18), 22 people were reported dead.