A university student was killed and dozens injured yesterday in northern Bangladesh, police said, as they fired tear gas and rubber bullets at stone-throwing students protesting for a second day against a quota system for government jobs.
Tens of thousands of students took part in the nationwide protests after more than 100 people were injured on Monday.
There were also clashes between protesters and students loyal to the ruling party in some places, including the capital Dhaka, as students blocked major highways and rail links.
They are the first significant protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government since she won a fourth straight term in January.
The protesters are angry over public sector job quotas, including a 30 percent quota for family members of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence, amid high youth unemployment.
Thousands of riot police fanned out at universities across the country in an effort to avert any incidents.
In northwestern Rangpur , police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the protests.
”We had to use rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the unruly students who were hurling stones at us,” metropolitan police commissioner Mohammad Moniruzzaman said.
Stagnant job growth in the private sector has made government jobs, which offer regular wage hikes and other privileges, more attractive.
About 56 percent of government jobs are reserved for various quotas. Women have a 10 percent reservation, 10 percent is for people from underdeveloped districts, 5 percent for indigenous communities and 1 percent for people with disabilities.
Violence erupted on Monday when thousands of anti-quota protesters clashed with members of the student wing of the ruling Awami League party.
Protesters have planned more marches and rallies nationwide and demonstrations will continue until their demands are met, said Nahid Islam, the coordinator of the anti-quota protests.
REUTERS