702 Injured, 39 Dead in Bangladesh Protests Over Job Quotas

In Bangladesh, violent clashes on Thursday resulted in 702 injuries, including 104 police officers and 30 journalists, as protests erupted over civil service hiring rules, Arab News reported yesterday.

The unrest, which spanned 26 of the country’s 64 districts, saw demonstrators setting fire to government buildings and vehicles.

Following a nationwide internet shutdown, police warned they would take stronger measures if the violence continued. This week alone, 39 people have died, with Thursday marking the deadliest day of unrest.

The protests, fueled by high youth unemployment, are demanding an end to the 30% job quota for families of 1971 war veterans. Although the quota system was abolished in 2018, it was reinstated by a high court last month, prompting the government to appeal. The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal on August 7, as disruptions in telecommunications persist across the nation.