Bangladesh Protests Resume Amid Government Inaction

Protests erupted again in Bangladesh on July 29, 2024, as students expressed outrage over the government’s failure to address their demands, Arab News reported yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration ignored an ultimatum to release detained protest leaders and issue a public apology for the violence that resulted in at least 205 deaths, including police officers.

The unrest, triggered by opposition to civil service job quotas, led to some of the worst clashes during Hasina’s 15-year tenure. Despite the government’s efforts to restore order through troop deployments, curfews, and internet shutdowns, demonstrators took to the streets in Dhaka and other cities.

Abdul Kader, a coordinator for the group Students Against Discrimination, condemned the government’s insensitivity and urged citizens to join their movement. Police responded by breaking up protests with batons, arresting at least 20 individuals, as tensions remain high across the nation.