The Bangladesh government has officially acknowledged a staggering toll of 150 lives lost during recent student unrest stemming from protests over the job quota system, marking a significant admission of the violence that has erupted in the country.
Following the turmoil, the government has declared a nationwide day of mourning, urging citizens to wear black badges to honor the deceased.
In a media briefing, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain announced the mourning day, stressing on that mosques, temples, pagodas, and churches nationwide are encouraged to offer prayers for both the departed and the wounded.
This announcement coincided with heightened security measures, as military and paramilitary troops patrolled the streets of Dhaka, where police in riot gear remained on high alert due to renewed calls for protests from student factions.
The unrest initially began in universities and colleges earlier this month, quickly escalating into broader agitation against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.
Violence erupted following the Supreme Court's ruling on July 21, which mandated significant reforms to the job quota system, reducing the reserve quota from 56 percent to just seven percent.
While the government issued a Gazette notification aligning with the court's order, stating that 93 percent of job opportunities would now be open to merit-based candidates, tensions remained high.
Student coordinator Nahid Islam confirmed the withdrawal of street demonstrations in a video message, stating, “Our main demand for logical reforms to the government job quota system has been met.”
However, discontent brewed among other students, who claimed their leaders were coerced into retracting the protests while in police custody.
As a result, scattered protests broke out, leading to clashes with security forces.
Witnesses and live footage revealed armed personnel carriers deployed at major points in Dhaka, where police sought to prevent any potential resurgence of violence.
“We have mobilised forces to prevent fresh violence,” a police official stated, highlighting the government's determination to maintain order amid rising unrest.
Despite the government’s efforts to quell the demonstrations, reports indicated that some groups of youths continued to hold protests, demanding a public apology from Prime Minister Hasina for the casualties and calling for the dismissal of several ministers.
Additional demands included the reopening of educational institutions, which have remained closed indefinitely amid the unrest.
In mid-July, Bangladesh was under a nationwide curfew as the government summoned the army to assist police in managing the protests. Media reports suggested that the unrest has resulted in over 200 fatalities across the nation.
The mass circulation newspaper Prothom Alo reported that 210 people lost their lives, with 113 being children and many others juveniles or youths. Since the onset of the protests, at least 9,000 individuals have been arrested.
Political analysts noted that the student protests were largely peaceful until ruling Awami League student activists intervened to suppress the dissent, leading to violent clashes between police and protesters.
The government attributed the escalation of violence to the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party and their student activists, whom they accused of inciting anarchy with support from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, the unrest has had a profound impact on Bangladesh's economy. The Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) estimated the economic losses to be around USD 10 billion and climbing. Mahbubul Alam, president of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), reported that the garment industry, a major source of export revenue, suffered losses amounting to Bangladeshi Taka 6.4 million (approximately USD 545,167).
In response to the escalating situation, authorities restored internet services following a ten-day disconnection of mobile and social media platforms.
However, the resumption of services has yet to aid tens of thousands of F-commerce sellers who rely on Facebook to conduct business, leaving many struggling to resume operations.
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