Six people were killed in Bangladesh and hundreds injured on Tuesday during the ongoing students’ protest against the quota system that reinstates a 30 per cent quota for government jobs for children of freedom fighters in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, as per the local news. The government has ordered the indefinite closure of schools and colleges while the country is engulfed in deadly protest.

The protest sparked in most parts of the country after the Bangladesh High Court, while listening to an appeal of the June 5 judgment, affirmed its previous order reinstating the 30 per cent quota system. The government scrapped the 30 per cent quota for first and second-class jobs in 2018 due to heavy protests and criticism from the public.

The protesters have alleged that the job quota system is “discriminatory” and “unfairly benefits” the children of pro-government groups putting the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling party Awami League under public scrutiny.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh has been witnessing violent clashes between the Awami League affiliated student union, Chhatri League, formerly known as the East Pakistan Student League, and students from all across the state comprising different colleges and universities. The clash between the groups led to the death of three students. Moreover, two protesting students have been allegedly killed by bullet shots in Chittagong, the second-largest city in Bangladesh. One student died in another city following a police assault. The government has also deployed border forces in several districts to curb the student-led protests. Police have been reportedly lashing the protesters with grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets.

United Nations expressed concerns in light of the violent protests and urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of protesters comprising students against any “threat or violence”.