Bangladesh: Protesters set light to state broadcaster

At least 19 people died in clashes between students and police in Bangladesh on Thursday, while the government cut communications and protesters attacked the head office of the country's state-run broadcaster. 

Students have been protesting for weeks against a quota system for government jobs, but the violence has escalated dramatically in recent days.

Bangladeshis reported widespread internet outages on Thursday night after the government announced it would temporarily suspend mobile services.

"Live network data show Bangladesh is now in the midst of a near-total internet shutdown," internet outage monitor Netblocks said.

The websites of some major newspapers like the Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star were not available on Thursday evening.

Protesters storm Bangladesh Television's head office

Earlier on Thursday, protesters stormed the headquarters of state-run broadcaster Bangladesh Television in Dhaka.

A post on BTV's verified Facebook page said a fire was "catastrophic" and "spreading fast." 

"We seek the cooperation of the Fire Service. Many people are trapped inside," the broadcaster said.

The AFP news agency cited a BTV official as saying that hundreds of protesters had stormed the premises, setting alight at least 60 vehicles and an office building.

"They first torched a police post at Rampura after police opened fire at them," he said, referring to a neighborhood in the capital Dhaka. 

"They chased the police officers when they took refuge at the BTV office. Angry protesters then caused mayhem here."

Bangladesh's Law Minister Anisul Huq said in the afternoon that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked him to sit down with the protesters for dialogue, and he was ready to speak with them on Thursday if protesters were willing.

On Wednesday night, the protesters announced they would enforce "a complete shutdown," allowing only emergency services across the country on Thursday in response to security officials' continued attacks on the campus demonstrators. 

Mobile internet services cut

Bangladeshi authorities cut several mobile internet services on Thursday for "security" reasons following the intense violence surrounding the student protests. 

"Mobile internet has been temporarily suspended due to various rumors and the unstable situation created... on social media," Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the junior information technology minister, told reporters.

Services would be restored once the situation returned to normal, Palak added. Shops and offices were open in Dhaka, the capital, but there were fewer buses on the streets. The government has ordered schools and universities to close indefinitely amid the protests.

Why are students protesting in Bangladesh?

Students have been demanding the abolition of a quota of 30% reserved for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Protesters argue that the reservations have led to widespread unemployment in the South Asian country.

Bangladesh has nearly 32 million people who are out of work or education among a population of 170 million.

Sadat Tasnim, a Bangladeshi rights activist based in Germany, told DW that there have been concerns about strains in the job market. 

"With rising inflation and no job security, the youth hoped for secure government jobs. But the existing quota system added an unfair hurdle," he said.

On Thursday, protests continued nationwide, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators.

Asif Mehmud, a coordinator of the protest movement, told DW that Bangladesh's government had used its activists and security forces to attack peaceful demonstrations.

"So far, we have heard the news of 10 deaths and we have been facing massive attacks since the last three days. Protesters are being killed," he said before the toll climbed to at least 19 later in the day.

"The students were trying to meet their demands peacefully. But the government opted for a crackdown on the protests instead of listening to their logical demands," he said.

Government to investigate casualties

Authorities had shut all public and private universities indefinitely from Wednesday and sent riot police and the Border Guard paramilitary force to university campuses to keep order. 

In a speech on Wednesday, Sheikh Hasina promised her government would set up a judicial panel to investigate the deaths after police fired bullets and tear gas to scatter protesters.

Hasina urged the students to remain patient until the Supreme Court hears the government's appeal against a High Court decision on August 7, which ordered the reinstatement of the 30% quota.

zc,rc,sp/fb,rm (Reuters, AFP, AP)