Student Leaders Arrested Amid Ongoing Protests in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi police have arrested student leaders Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud after their release from Gonoshasthya Hospital, where they were receiving treatment for injuries sustained during recent protests, Arab News reported yesterday.

The demonstrations, sparked by a controversial job quota system favoring descendants of 1971 liberation war fighters, have resulted in at least 209 deaths and thousands of injuries across the country.

The arrests occurred despite objections from hospital staff, as authorities claimed the leaders were detained for their safety. A curfew remains in effect in Dhaka, where over 2,284 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest.

International rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned police actions, citing evidence of excessive force against protesters. The Supreme Court recently reduced the quota, mandating that 93% of government jobs be filled based on merit.