Bangladesh protests: 39 killed, state broadcaster's building set ablaze
Dhaka: Violent clashes between student protesters and security officials over a quota system for government jobs have resulted in 39 deaths across Bangladesh. The protests, which erupted into violence on Thursday, have plunged the country into chaos.
Armed with sticks and rocks, students clashed with police nationwide, including in the capital, Dhaka. The protesters aimed to shut down transportation across Bangladesh, leading to widespread disruptions.
Hundreds were injured as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. Protesters torched vehicles, police posts, and other establishments, including the state broadcaster’s building.
Streets in Dhaka were deserted on Friday following the violent protests. Communication services were widely disrupted, with a near-total internet shutdown reported. The protests intensified after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s televised address, which aimed to calm the unrest.
The unrest began late last month and escalated on Monday when student activists at Dhaka University clashed with police and counter-protesters backed by the ruling Awami League. The students demand the abolition of the quota system, which reserves 30% of government jobs for the families of 1971 war veterans. They argue that the system is discriminatory and want a merit-based system.
Despite the government scrapping these quotas in 2018, a High Court reinstated them, and the Supreme Court is set to hear the government's appeal on August 7. Prime Minister Hasina has appealed for peace and assured the students of a fair judicial inquiry.
The Awami League alleges that the violence was incited by Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal, student wings of opposition parties. The UN Secretary-General has called for restraint and urged authorities to investigate the violence.
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UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
