Bangladesh: Pakistan’s ISI Angle Emerges In Quota Violence | ABP News

Massive protests in Bangladesh have escalated into violence, with clashes occurring between students, pro-government supporters, and armed police. Former Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla has expressed concerns about the ongoing violence, suggesting the possible involvement of Pakistan’s ISI and other external entities. New protests have erupted despite a ban on public meetings following earlier violence that resulted in nearly two dozen deaths. Shringla hinted at the involvement of Pakistani radical elements in the bloodshed. Protesters continue to lose their lives, even as authorities have cut mobile telephone services in an attempt to quell the unrest. The protests are driven by demands for reform of the country’s quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan.