Bangladesh: Day of mourning to remember sacrifice of over 200 students

Bangladesh observes day of mourning to remember sacrifice of over 200 students

The Asian Tribune

www.asiantribune.net

DHAKA: A day of mourning was observed in Bangladesh to remember the sacrifice of nearly 200 students who died in the recent countrywide protests against quotas.

Angry youth had come out on the streets against the provision of reserving 30% seats to the descendants of those who participated in the country’s 1971 war.

This led to wide unrest and the protests also turned violent. The police and security forces hit back and students were dealt with, sternly This further angered students and it took days before protests ended.

The police have also been accused of atrocities and highhandedness. Many students were hit in the eyes, affecting their vision.

Protests continued for days. The students’ anger, the size of the protests and the youths’ sentiment on quota issue, were reasons enough to cause worry for the administration. The intensity of protests & anger against government came as a surprise.

Youth would come out, hurl stones at universities, hold demonstrations, while raising slogans and expressing anger.

Youth opposed quota that existed for freedom fighters’ descendants in services.