Bangladeshi students set fire to the state broadcaster BTV’s building a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s televised address trying to soothe tensions in the wake of violence that has left at least 39 dead so far.
Digital outlet Dhaka Times reporter Mehedi Hasan was killed the same day while covering clashes in Dhaka. Dhaka Times editor Ariufur Rahman Dolon told New Age that he was shot in the head. It’s not clear yet if he died in police firing.
Protesters in Bangladesh have demanded a repeal of a quota in government jobs for specific groups, including children of veterans from the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. They say the scheme benefits children of pro-government groups that back Hasina, who has ruled the country since 2009.
Hasina won her fourth consecutive election in January amid accusations that state institutions had been undermined and dissent stamped out.
The attack on BTV premises took place as protesters tried to chase police after many were killed in police firing amid protests in Dhaka. A crowd then set ablaze the network’s reception building and dozens of vehicles parked outside, a BTV official told AFP.
Reuters reported that BTV remains offline.
“About 100 policemen were injured in the clashes yesterday,” Faruk Hossain, a spokesperson for the capital’s police force, told AFP. “Around 50 police booths were burnt”.
The government of Hasina, 76, has ordered schools and universities to close indefinitely as police step up efforts to bring a deteriorating law and order situation under control. She appeared on the channel on Wednesday night to condemn the “murder” of protesters and vow that those found responsible would be punished regardless of their political affiliation. But violence worsened as police again tried to break up demonstrations with rubber bullets and teargas volleys.
According to AFP, at least 32 people were killed on Thursday in addition to seven killed earlier in the week.
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