DHAKA: At least 20 more people were killed Thursday in Bangladesh as police opened fire on students protesting quota reforms in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Seventeen victims, mostly students, including minors, were killed as police, the ruling Awami League party members attacked protesters, Anadolu Agency reported.
The new fatalities recorded 12 in Dhaka, two in the Narsingdi district, two in the port city of Chattogram and one in the central Madaripur district, according to local newspaper Prothom Alo.
Another victim was killed after being trapped in clashes between protesters and police early in Dhaka’s Jatrabari neighbourhood. And two more people were killed in Dhaka, including a journalist.
The death toll has risen to 26 since Tuesday.
State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) said its building was set on fire late Thursday.
Thousands of students have been demonstrating since July 1 after a court reinstated quotas for government jobs, which had been abolished in 2018.
Protesters are demanding changes to the system, which reserves 56 per cent of public jobs for certain groups. – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
