A High-Security Alert has been declared across Bangladesh amid ongoing violent clashes between students and police. The capital, Dhaka, is experiencing a near-total internet blackout, with phone lines also down.
On Thursday evening, thousands of protesters stormed the state broadcaster BTV, vandalizing furniture, smashing windows, and setting parts of the building on fire. The information minister confirmed that broadcasts were halted and most employees had evacuated.
Read more: Five Dead, Hundreds Injured In Bangladesh Anti-Quota Protests
Earlier, BTV’s Facebook page had reported that many employees were trapped inside, prompting an urgent plea for fire services. A senior BTV journalist shared that the situation was dire, and some colleagues were trapped. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had appeared on television urging calm after days of protests that have resulted in at least 19 deaths and numerous injuries.
The protests are driven by students demanding changes to a system that reserves a third of public sector jobs for relatives of war veterans from the 1971 independence conflict, which they see as discriminatory. The government’s attempts to suppress the protests, including shutting down mobile internet, have only intensified the violence.
Reports indicate that 32 people have died in the unrest, with 13 fatalities occurring on Thursday alone. The violence has included the use of tear gas and rubber bullets by police, and protesters have attacked police stations and other government properties.
