Bangladesh unrest: Students defy ban to continue protests

Protesting college students have returned to the streets of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, defying a ban on public rallies following a day of clashes which left dozens lifeless.

Symbolic funeral processions had been deliberate to pay tribute to a minimum of 25 folks killed on Thursday.

The deaths introduced the overall quantity killed to 31, in response to BBC Bangla, although precise toll is tough to evaluate due partially to an nearly full communications shutdown, with cellular web and phone strains reportedly down.

The shutdown comes as authorities attempt to quell the protests demanding the federal government scrap a job quota for the households of veterans who took half within the nation’s independence battle in 1971.

Bus and prepare companies have reportedly additionally been halted, whereas photographs from Dhaka present massive numbers of police in riot gear on the streets.

Colleges and universities throughout Bangladesh have additionally been shut till additional discover.

However this has finished little to cease the protesters, who vowed to proceed with their very own “Full Shutdown”, which has seen them blockade roads throughout the town.

On Friday, college students chanting “benefit, benefit” and “we can’t let the blood that has been shed of our brothers go in useless” had been joined by numerous mother and father exterior Dhaka college.

The scholars are arguing that the quota system is discriminatory, asking for recruitment based mostly on benefit.

A march organised by Islamist events was met with tear gasoline, rubber bullets and stun grenades.

The principle opposition Bangladesh Nationwide Get together has additionally referred to as for protest.

It stated certainly one of its senior leaders, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, had been taken into custody. Police didn’t give any causes for Mr Rizvi’s arrest.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam informed the BBC that authorities had determined to ban rallies within the metropolis with the intention to defend lives and property following Thursday’s violence.

Police stated 100 officers had been injured. Talking on Thursday night, a authorities minister stated a number of automobiles parked exterior authorities buildings had been set on fireplace.

The clashes have additionally not been confined to Dhaka, with 26 districts reporting incidents.

The protesters who occupied and set gentle to the state broadcaster BTV had left by Friday morning, though the channel had not began broadcasting once more.

A senior reporter informed BBC Bangla the newsroom, studio and canteen had all been broken in Thursday’s fireplace.

Extra reporting by BBC Bangla