Protest by students in Bangladesh has led to dozens of injuries. The violence erupted on Monday near Dhaka as the police used tear gas and batons to try to rein in crowds of students. Students have been protesting for two weeks against discriminatory quotas for public service jobs, saying they favor supporters of the ruling party. They want a merit-based system instead.
The situation is tense but quiet at Dhaka University, the protest’s epicenter. Pro-government student groups are guarding the area with sticks and helmets to stop protesting students from entering the area and avoiding clashes. But other protests have spread to different parts of the city and even involved private university students. These demonstrations virtually paralyze Dhaka, blocking key intersections.
The government has stood adamant, and the Prime Minister has gone to the extent of calling the protesters collaborators of the Pakistan Army. This has further incited the students’ wrath, and the protests now see more participation than ever. On Monday, thousands of students hit the streets across the country, leading to more violence, especially at Dhaka University and other universities following the attack on pro-quota students.
The government, in its turn, announced that it would not act on any changes to the quota system until a court verdict, due within a month, was rendered. Until then, demonstrations will likely continue wracking the city.
Reported By Al Jazeera
