Schools, Universities Shut In Bangladesh Indefinitely As Violent Protests Kill 6

Six people died after protests against job quota for relatives of Bangladesh's 1971 war heroes turned violent on Tuesday with demonstrators clashing with pro-government student activists.

Authorities in Bangladesh have urged all private and public universities to remain closed until further notice as violent protests over quota in government jobs killed six. 

The University Grants Commission, in a press release, said that all academic activities of all public and private universities, medical, textile, and engineering colleges affiliated with the university and other colleges will remain shut until further notice, reported Dhaka Tribune. 

The students have also been ordered to vacate the halls of residence considering the safety. 

Some universities were prompt to comply with the order, but others, including the major university at the centre of the violence, were still deciding how to respond, reported the Associated Press. 

Authorities at Dhaka University closed the university for an indefinite period following the UGC directives. The authorities also instructed to empty dormitories by 6:00 pm. 

The students, however, protested the decision and thronged the Vice Chancellor's residence, reported Daily Star. An emergency syndicate was convened at another university in the capital, Jahangirnagar University to implement the UGC's directive, reported Dhaka Tribune. Earlier on Wednesday, all secondary, higher secondary, and polytechnic institutions and colleges under the National University were declared closed until further notice.

At least six people were killed in violence across the country as student protestors clashed with activists from Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, and with the police on Tuesday. Violence was reported around the capital of Dhaka, the southeastern city of Chattogram, and the northern city of Rangpur. 

Stray protests occurred at Dhaka University (DU) and elsewhere in the country on Wednesday. Police have been deployed on the campus while paramilitary border forces patrolled the streets in Dhaka and other big cities, reported AP. 

The Tuesday violence continued into Wednesday as dorm rooms occupied by DU Chhatra League President Mazharul Kabir Shoyon and General Secretary Tanvir Hasan Saikat were vandalised, as per Dhaka Tribune.

The protests erupted late last month as students demanded to scrap a quota that reserves 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of war heroes of Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence. The demonstration, however, turned violent on Monday after protestors clashed with counter-protests and police at Dhaka University leaving 100 people injured.