Deadly Student Protests Ignite Nationwide Crisis in Bangladesh as government buildings are torched.

Bangladesh awoke on Friday to the aftermath of the deadliest day of ongoing student protests, which have left a trail of destruction, including torched government buildings and a nationwide internet blackout. The unrest has claimed at least 39 lives, with 32 fatalities occurring on Thursday, and the death toll is expected to rise as clashes have erupted in nearly half of the country's 64 districts.

Smoke billows from vehicles set ablaze by protesters during the anti-quota demonstrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 18, 2024. Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

A police statement released after the near-total shutdown of the nation's internet described how protesters had engaged in "destructive activities" targeting numerous police and government offices. One of the most significant incidents involved the Dhaka headquarters of state broadcaster Bangladesh Television, which remains offline after hundreds of enraged students stormed the premises and set fire to a building.

"About 100 policemen were injured in the clashes yesterday," stated Faruk Hossain, a spokesman for the capital's police force. "Around 50 police booths were burnt."

The police have warned that they will "be forced to make maximum use of law" if the destruction continues. Hospital staff reported that police fire was responsible for at least two-thirds of the deaths so far.

The violent confrontations have been widespread, with at least 26 districts reporting clashes on Thursday. Independent Television reported that over 700 individuals were wounded, including 104 police officers and 30 journalists.

The protests, which have become an almost daily occurrence this month, are primarily against a quota system that reserves more than half of civil service posts for specific groups, including children of veterans from the country's 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. Critics argue that the system disproportionately benefits children of pro-government groups supporting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has ruled since 2009 and secured her fourth consecutive term in January after a controversial election.

Rights groups accuse Hasina's government of abusing state institutions to consolidate power and suppress dissent, including through extrajudicial killings of opposition activists. In response to the escalating unrest, the government has ordered the indefinite closure of schools and universities.

Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh expert at the University of Oslo in Norway, explained that the protests have evolved into a broader expression of discontent with Hasina's autocratic governance. "They are protesting against the repressive nature of the state," he told AFP. "The students are in fact calling her a dictator."

Despite Hasina's attempt to address the nation via the now-offline state broadcaster to calm the situation, students remain resolute in their demands. "Our first demand is that the prime minister must apologize to us," declared 18-year-old protester Bidisha Rimjhim. "Secondly, justice must be ensured for our killed brothers."

The internet shutdown has drawn criticism from international watchdogs. London-based Netblocks highlighted the severe implications of the blackout, stating, "The disruption prevents families from contacting each other and stifles efforts to document human rights violations."

As Bangladesh grapples with this unprecedented crisis, the government's next steps will be crucial in determining the future course of the nation's stability and democratic integrity.