Bangladesh unrest: Students defy ban to continue protests

Written by Ethirajan Anbarasan and Yogita Limaye, reporting from London and Delhi for BBC News.

A woman who was hurt received assistance on Thursday, which was the most fatal day since the protests started.

Students who are against something have come back to the roads in the main city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, even though they were told they couldn't have public gatherings after a day of fights that resulted in many deaths.

Symbolic marches were organized to honor the memory of at least 25 individuals who lost their lives on Thursday.

An additional two fatalities were recorded on Friday, bringing the overall death toll to at least 33 since the demonstrations began. However, determining the exact number of casualties is challenging because of a near-total lack of communication, with mobile internet and phone services said to be unavailable.

The closure is happening while officials attempt to calm down the demonstrations that are calling for the government to eliminate a rule that gives job preferences to veterans' families from the war for independence in 1971.

Bus and train services have apparently been stopped, and there are pictures from Dhaka showing many police officers in riot gear on the streets.

Educational institutions in Bangladesh are closed until further announcement.

However, this has not deterred the protesters, who have pledged to carry on with their "Complete Shutdown" by blocking roads throughout the city.

Last Friday, a group of students were shouting "merit, merit" and "we will not allow our brothers' bloodshed to be forgotten" while parents joined them outside Dhaka university.

Students are debating that the quota system is unfair and are requesting that recruitment should be based on an individual's qualifications. Opponents of the system argue that it gives preferential treatment to those connected to political groups that back Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who recently won her fourth consecutive election in January.

A protest organized by Islamic parties faced tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades.

Many fires were set in various locations throughout the city, as confirmed by authorities.

The leading opposition party in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh National Party, has also urged for demonstrations. The exiled acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, took to Twitter to urge people to stand in solidarity with the "compassionate students."

The party announced that one of its high-ranking members, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, had been detained by authorities. The police did not provide any explanation for Mr. Rizvi's apprehension.

Efforts to resolve the protests through discussions have not been successful up to this point.

The Law Minister Anisul Haque informed BBC Bangla that the government was willing to have conversations about the matters at hand. He stated, "I believe they are also deliberating on whether they will participate in the discussions or not."

However, student Nahid Iqbal informed the BBC on Thursday that they are not currently interested in participating in the discussions.

The government has caused the deaths of numerous individuals in a single day, making it impossible for us to participate in any conversations given the current situation.

Individuals have informed the BBC that the streets are generally calm, except for the large number of police officers patrolling.

Before, Shafiqul Islam, who is the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, informed the BBC that they had made the decision to prohibit gatherings in the city to ensure the safety of people and their belongings after the violent incidents on Thursday.

On their own, the police told BBC Bangla that two individuals passed away on Friday.

According to law enforcement, 100 officers sustained injuries on Thursday. Additionally, a government official reported that multiple vehicles outside government offices were deliberately set ablaze.

The conflicts have not only occurred in Dhaka but also in 26 other districts.

The demonstrators who took control of and burned down the state-run BTV station had departed by Friday morning, but the network remained offline.

An experienced journalist informed BBC Bangla that the fire on Thursday had caused significant damage to the newsroom, studio, and canteen.

More information provided by BBC Bangla.