Protests in Bangladesh Suspended Amid Deadly Violence, Government Crackdown

The Bangladeshi student group, Students Against Discrimination, has temporarily suspended protests for 48 hours following violent clashes that resulted in at least 163 deaths, Dawn reported yesterday.

The unrest, sparked by demands for reform of politicized job quotas, escalated into one of the worst crises during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

Nahid Islam, the group’s leader, called for the government to lift the curfew and restore internet access.

The Supreme Court recently reduced reserved job quotas from 56% to 5%, primarily benefiting descendants of “freedom fighters” from the 1971 liberation war, failing to meet protesters’ demands for complete abolition.

As international scrutiny mounts, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus urged global leaders to intervene and investigate the violence.

The government has arrested over 500 individuals, including opposition leaders, as soldiers patrol the streets amidst ongoing unrest and a nationwide internet blackout.