DHAKA: Anti-quota protests in the central Bangladesh turned violent as protesting student stormed a jail in Narsingdi district on Friday, freeing hundreds of inmates and setting the facility ablaze.
The incident marked a dramatic escalation in anti-quota protests demanding reforms to public service hiring rules.
A police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed the jailbreak and the subsequent fire, stating that the number of inmates who escaped could be in the hundreds. Moushumi Sarker, a senior government official in Narsingdi, confirmed the incident but provided no further details.
Residents near the jail reported seeing numerous inmates leaving with their belongings following the chaos.
The unrest comes amid a week of heightened tensions and clashes across Bangladesh after police used lethal force during the crackdown on demonstrations, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In response to the escalating violence, Dhaka police imposed a ban on all public gatherings for the day, including rallies and processions, in an effort to maintain public safety.
Despite the ban and an internet shutdown aimed at disrupting protest coordination, confrontations between police and demonstrators continued in Dhaka, where at least 19 people were reported killed on Friday alone.
The protests have also led to significant damage, including the burning and vandalism of police and government offices. The headquarters of Bangladesh Television in Dhaka remains offline after being attacked by protesters.
Amid the unrest, police announced the arrest of Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, a senior figure from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), citing multiple charges against him.
With clashes reported in nearly half of Bangladesh’s districts, the situation remains volatile, and the death toll of the civilians reached to 75.
