Protesting students in Bangladesh on Friday stormed into a jail in Narsingdi district and freed many inmates before setting it on fire. The police were not sure of how many inmates got freed amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, reportedly, at least 50 people have been killed in Bangladesh so far since the protest broke out across the country over the 'controversial' quota system for government jobs.
Four more people died on Friday in the clashes between the police and protesters in the capital city of Dhaka.
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In a big challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, protesters have demanded a merit-based system that is fair to all amid the employment crisis in the nation. Hasina had defended the quota system saying that veterans deserve the highest respect for their contributions to the war.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed by the government to lock down campuses and break up protests. In the wake of the nationwide protests, classes were suspended by universities and dormitories were closed.
On Friday, Dhaka police said they were banning all gatherings and demonstrations as well.
Internet services were suspended
Mobile data and internet services were disrupted in many regions including Dhaka. Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were also not loading.
A statement from the country's Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said they were unable to ensure service after their data centre was attacked on Thursday by demonstrators, who set fire to some equipment.
However, the student protesters said they would extend their calls to impose a shutdown and urged the mosques to hold prayers for those killed in the clashes.
The protesters were backed by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The party vowed to organise its own demonstrations to support the students. Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was arrested too.
Hasina's government has accused the BNP of stoking the violence, with authorities raiding the opposition party's headquarters earlier this week and arresting activists from the party's student wing.
On Wednesday, Hasina urged protesters in a televised address to wait with patience for the court verdict. I believe our students will get justice from the apex court. They will not be disappointed.
The SC is set to hear the appeal on August 7.