Bangladesh Prime Minister Blames Opponents for Recent Violence Amid Student Protests

Along with balls, the country’s prime minister addresses the recent violence to the opponents amidst student protests.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused her political rivals of instigating the violent incidents that occurred during a protest by students regarding the government job reservation policy. Thus, she stated that the curfew that was put in place to address the unrest will be removed once the conditions are favorable.

The chaos started when students demonstrated against the then-existing quota system for receiving government jobs. Protesters’ ambushings of security forces escalated to rigorous measures: Internet blackouts, a curfew, and military intervention. The Supreme Court acted on Sunday to axe most of the quotas, this followed a spate of violence which claimed at least 147 lives.

Delivering her speech in Dhaka, Hasina, 76, some of her audience staggered at the reason she had to enforce the curfew, thanked her audience and said: “When arson terrorism started the protesting students said they are not involved. ” The premier said she had to enforce a curfew to protect the lives and property of the citizens. “I never wanted it We will remove it once the situation gets better,” the prime minister assured

The opposition has not commented on Hasina’s accusations up to now. Nonetheless, opposing political parties including BNP criticized Hasina’s administration by accusing them of being authoritarian, constant human rights violations, and limiting freedom of speech even though the government denies these accusations.

On Monday the situation in Dhaka seemed calmer after the Supreme Court verdict that said that government jobs must be 93% meritorious rather than quotas.