Bangladeshi Students Reject Peace Offer, Continue Protests

DHAKA: Bangladeshi students have vowed to continue nationwide protests against the public service recruitment regulations, rejecting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s peace offer. Hasina had promised to deliver justice for the seven individuals who lost their lives in the incident.

According to AFP, the government had previously ordered the closure of schools and universities for an indefinite period and had intensified efforts to contain the ongoing demonstrations, which have persisted for weeks demanding equal access to public sector jobs.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, while students, who are also allies of the ruling Awami League party, clashed on the streets with bricks and bamboo poles.

In her televised address, Hasina condemned the killings involving protesters and pledged that those responsible would be punished regardless of their political affiliations.

However, ‘Students Against Discrimination,’ the main group behind the demonstrations, criticized the leader’s remarks as insincere and urged supporters to continue protesting.

One of the protest coordinators, Asif Mahmud, told AFP that Hasina’s statements did not reflect the true extent of the violence and killings perpetrated by her party’s activists.

The group also called on Bangladeshi citizens to monitor the situation nationwide today by ensuring shops remain closed and residents stay home in preparation for new protests scheduled to occur soon.

In the capital Dhaka, there were almost no vehicles on the roads, despite usual heavy traffic.

Dhaka residents reported widespread disruptions to mobile internet services today, two days after the internet provider cut off access to Facebook, which was a major platform used by organizers for the campaign.

Police also announced the death of the seventh protester late yesterday afternoon, acknowledging that the 18-year-old was killed by a security force’s gunfire.

Inspector Bacchu Mia told AFP that the teenager was hit by a rubber bullet.

The victim was taken to the hospital but was declared dead before receiving treatment.

Over 500 others were injured in clashes across the country yesterday, while six people were killed on Tuesday.

For the record, the protests began earlier this month after the High Court ordered the government to restore 30 percent of job quotas for the descendants of independence fighters.