Deadly protests in Bangladesh quelled, but anger simmers

Use of force could breed further discontent as people grapple with inflation, lack of jobs

- 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina imposed a nationwide curfew last week and used the army to quell protests against government job quotas that killed nearly 150 people, but anger against her government does not seem to have abated.

The protests, which started in universities and colleges earlier in July, quickly turned into a more widespread agitation against Ms Hasina and her government.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas and lobbed sound grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters who came out on the streets.

The government denied any live rounds were fired, but hospital sources said those who died or were injured had wounds from bullets and shotgun pellets.

Rights groups and critics say Ms Hasina has become increasingly autocratic during her last 15 years in power, and her rule has been marked by mass arrests of political opponents and activists, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, charges she denies.

Mr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushahoner Jonno Nagorik, a Dhaka-based civil society platform for good governance, said the protests were “just the tip of the iceberg”, and the use of force against students will breed further discontent against Ms Hasina’s government.