Bangladesh protests escalate, over 500 arrested as death toll rises

The situation in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the worse as protests against job quotas announced by the government continue to escalate.

Police authorities have confirmed that over 500 people, including opposition leaders, have been arrested in the capital city of Dhaka. The violence, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people, has sparked clashes between protesters and the police and soldiers deployed by the government.

In a partial victory for the student protesters, Bangladesh’s top court has scaled back the controversial job-quota system. However, student leaders are determined to sustain the protests until all those arrested and detained are freed and the officials responsible for the deadly crackdown resign. As a result, they have called for a nationwide shutdown on Monday.

To maintain control, soldiers have been patrolling cities across the country, and an indefinite curfew has been imposed. Furthermore, a communications blackout has severely restricted the flow of information to the outside world. The exact death toll from the violent unrest remains unclear, but reports suggest that more than 100 people, mostly protesters, have been killed.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned opposition politicians for “creating anarchy” and has made at least 70 arrests among the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The crisis has also caught the attention of foreign governments, with Germany issuing a travel advisory to its nationals, urging them to avoid travel to Bangladesh due to the escalating situation.

India has also been impacted by the unrest, with approximately 4,500 Indian nationals fleeing the violence in Bangladesh and returning home. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of its citizens at land ports and airports. Additionally, hundreds of students from Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives have sought refuge in India.