Protesters set fire to the headquarters of Bangladesh's main state broadcaster BTV, where "many people" are reportedly trapped inside, according to the network. The unrest stems from students demanding equal access to public sector jobs.
Bangladesh: Protesters Set State Broadcaster Ablaze
Protesters in Bangladesh set fire to the headquarters of the country's main state broadcaster, BTV, with reports of many people trapped inside, according to the network. The violence comes amidst ongoing demonstrations by students demanding equal access to public sector jobs.
At least 19 people have died in clashes between students and police, with protesters attacking the BTV office. The unrest, initially sparked by opposition to a quota system for government jobs, has intensified in recent days.
Bangladesh's Law Minister Anisul Huq stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed him to engage in dialogue with the protesters, expressing readiness to meet with them on Thursday if they are willing.
Protesters had announced a nationwide shutdown on Thursday in response to continued security force actions against demonstrators on university campuses. BTV's verified Facebook page described the fire as "catastrophic" and appealed for the Fire Service's assistance, noting that many people were trapped inside.
According to an AFP report, hundreds of protesters stormed the BTV premises, setting fire to at least 60 vehicles and an office building. The escalation followed clashes where protesters initially set fire to a police post in Rampura after police opened fire on them.
The Bangladesh government temporarily suspended several mobile internet services on Thursday, citing security concerns amid the violence surrounding the student protests. Junior Information Technology Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced that services would be restored once the situation normalized.
While shops and offices remained open in Dhaka, the capital, there were fewer buses on the streets. The government also ordered the indefinite closure of schools and universities amid the protests.
Students have been calling for the abolition of a 30% quota reserved for families of those who fought in the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan. They argue that the quota has contributed to widespread unemployment in the country, where nearly 32 million people are out of work or education among a population of 170 million.
Sadat Tasnim, a Bangladeshi rights activist based in Germany, highlighted concerns over job market strains, stating, "With rising inflation and no job security, youth hoped for secure government jobs. But the existing quota system added an unfair hurdle."
Protests continued nationwide on Thursday, with police using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators. Asif Mehmud, a protest coordinator, accused the government of deploying activists and security forces to suppress peaceful demonstrations.
Authorities responded to the unrest by shutting down all public and private universities indefinitely from Wednesday and deploying riot police and Border Guard paramilitary forces to maintain order. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a speech, promised to establish a judicial panel to investigate deaths resulting from police actions against protesters.
She urged students to remain patient pending a Supreme Court review of the government's appeal against a High Court decision to reinstate the 30% quota.