Death toll rises to 173 in Bangladesh student protests amid ongoing violence

International media reports indicate that the death toll from violent clashes between police and protesters in Bangladesh has risen to 173.

According to a report by Agence France-Presse released on Tuesday, July 23, the number of fatalities in the Bangladeshi protests has increased to 173, showing a significant rise compared to previous figures.

The report states that the Bangladeshi police have detained over 1,200 protesters in Dhaka, the capital city and restrictions on movement remain in effect across the city.

This comes despite Faruk Hossain, the spokesperson for Dhaka police, announcing yesterday that 532 individuals had been detained.

He also claimed that at least three police officers were killed during the unrest in the capital, with around 1,000 people injured, 60 of whom are in critical condition.

The protests began when the government introduced a quota system for government jobs, allocating up to 30% of these positions to the families of soldiers who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.

The Sheikh Hasina administration has pushed forward with this quota plan despite reports from Voice of America indicating high youth unemployment in Bangladesh.

The report reveals that nearly 32 million Bangladeshi youths, out of a total population of 170 million, are either unemployed or deprived of educational opportunities.

Furthermore, internet services, text messaging capabilities, and university activities have been suspended since Thursday as part of the government’s response to the unrest.

The ongoing violence and government response have drawn widespread criticism, with calls for an urgent resolution to address both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the underlying issues driving the protests.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation as the conflict underscores broader concerns about governance, civil rights, and economic stability in Bangladesh.

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