On Friday (2nd August), two people were killed and 150 others were left injured during violent protests in Bangladesh.
The development comes two weeks after the country’s Supreme Court reduced the percentage of reserved government jobs from 56% to 7%.
While protestors were initially demanding revocation of quota for families of freedom fighters, their renewed demands include justice for the 200 odd-people who were killed during the initial phase of violent protests and immediate release of detained protestors.
#Bangladesh: police open fire on protesters again. Reports of deaths in #Khulna and #Uttara. In one video from Khulna University, students can be heard on mosque microphones asking for help.
— Imrul (@glumphish) August 2, 2024
The government is at war with the people. #ProtectTheProtest
📷 collected pic.twitter.com/KXtEjhecSf
On Friday, a police constable named Suman Gharami died after being thrashed by protestors in Khulna. He had sustained severe head injuries and was declared dead on arrival at the Khulna City Medical College Hospital.
A 24-year-old labourer named Mostaq Ahmed was shot dead in Habiganj amid a clash between protestors and the law enforcement authorities. A native of the Sylhet Tuker Bazar area, the deceased had gone to buy shoes from the town.
He died due to excessive bleeding. An estimated 150 people were injured on Friday. This includes three cops, namely, Mazharul Islam, Soumen and Sohanur Rahman Sohag.
Today in Bangladesh Uttara’s 11 No Sector Milestone College Main campus.#SaveBangladeshStudents pic.twitter.com/h5EQSMNgf0
— Kousar (@ishak077) August 2, 2024
Violence was witnessed in Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, Narsingdi, Chattogram and Noakhali after Jumma Namaz. According to Deputy Commissioner Tohidul Islam, protestors carried out an arson attack on a training school of Special Branch in Dhaka’s Uttara.
Similarly, protestors set a police box on fire at the Wasa intersection in Chattogram after Jumma Namaz. The protestors resorted to pelting stones and hurling brickbats.
The law enforcement authorities responded with lathi-charge, rubber bullets, firearms, stun grenades and teargas. Several protestors were admitted to hospitals with rubber bullet injuries.
