All public and private universities and other educational institutions in Bangladesh have been ordered to shut down indefinitely in view of the on-going students’ protest against the quota system for government jobs, reports said.
At least six people died and scores injured in the protests.
The shut-down was ordered by the University Grants Commission on Tuesday evening, they said, adding that it also instructed the students to vacate the premises immediately for security reasons.
Bangladesh has been rocked by protests for weeks over public sector job quotas, which include a 30 percent reservation for family members of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.
The issue has sparked anger among young people who face high unemployment rates, with nearly 32 million people not in work or education out of a total population of 170 million.
The demonstrations intensified after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to meet their demands, and labelled those opposing the quota as ‘razakar’ – a term used for those who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war.
The anti-quota protests turned violent few days ago when thousands of protesters clashed with members of the student wing of the ruling Awami League party across the country.
Rubber bullets and tear gas was used by the police to disperse the protesters.
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Six people, including at least three students, were killed during the clashes on Tuesday, according to police.
“We urgently call on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters and proper treatment of all those injured,” Amnesty International said in a post on X.
Nahid Islam, the coordinator of the anti-quota protests, said students will hold processions on Wednesday carrying coffins in solidarity with those that lost their lives.
“Many have left the dormitories out of fear due to attacks by cadres of the student league,” said a female student of Dhaka University, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.
