Bangladeshi Student Group Threatens Resumption of Protests Unless Leaders Freed

A Bangladeshi student group, Students Against Discrimination, has announced plans to resume protests unless several of its leaders are released from custody, VOA reported today.

The unrest, sparked by a campaign against civil service job quotas, has resulted in at least 205 deaths, marking one of the most significant upheavals during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. Despite a nationwide curfew and military patrols, tensions remain high as authorities have arrested around 9,000 individuals since the protests began.

Group leader Nahid Islam, forcibly taken from a hospital by plainclothes detectives, is among those detained. He expressed fears for his safety, while fellow activist Abdul Hannan Masud demanded the release of detained leaders and accountability for government officials linked to the violence. The Supreme Court recently reduced the number of reserved jobs under the controversial quota system, but protesters seek its complete abolition.

As the government gradually eases curfews and restores mobile internet access, the student group warns that unless their demands are met, they will initiate “tough protests” starting Monday, intensifying the ongoing crisis in the country.