Unicef has reported that during recent student unrest in Bangladesh, 32 children have died. The youngest child to die was below five years old, and most of the casualties were onlookers. These deaths are part of a wider context of more than 200 people who perished while agitating against job quotas in the civil service, according to BBC Bangla.
Ongoing Protests and Government Response
However, even after scaling down the quota system as ordered by the Supreme Court, protests have not ceased. Now, students are demanding justice over death, injuries, or detentions. The ongoing demonstrations have further infuriated the public about the government’s initial handling of this crisis, albeit reduced in scale now. Expressing their frustration with what they perceive as impunity among those behind such acts of violence, demonstrators congregated outside Dhaka’sDhaka’s largest mosque after Friday prayers.
Government and Security Forces’Forces’ Actions
And rubber bullets, causing at least 20 injured people during demonstrations. On visiting Bangladesh last week, Unicef’s Regional Director for South Asia, Sanjay Wijesekera, said he had learned of his organization’s death tolls and seen children being held.
Discrepancies and Government Denials
Regarding Unicef’s figures, a junior information minister, Mohammad Ali Arafat from Bangladesh, contradicted them, saying these figures cannot be trusted. He pointed out that all these murders will be properly investigated by authorities, who will ensure that offenders are prosecuted for their crimes. However, there is much evidence suggesting an excessive use of force by security agents, which resulted in many victims sustaining bullet wounds, although it was alleged that political opponents were behind these disturbances.
Bans and Detentions
Due to involvement in violence and destruction of property, the Bangladeshi government announced a ban on its main Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir. Opposition leaders have described this move as “unconstitutional, extrajudicial, and illegal.”
Student Leaders’Leaders’ Detention and Reactions
According to officials, student protest leaders were held for one week for safety. However, their release has done little to reduce the outrage. They have issued a joint statement accusing the authorities of ” harassment, torture, and drama” during their detention and calling for further protests. Since the crackdown began, nearly ten thousand persons have been arrested.
Official Justifications
While defending the detentions, Minister Arafat stated that student leaders’ lives might be endangered due to some threats. The situation in Bangladesh is reflected in how the government has dealt with protests and responded to criticisms leveled against it.
