Foreign
ANTI-quota protesters clash with the police in Dhaka on July 18, 2024. – Bangladesh students vowed on July 18 to continue nationwide protests against civil service hiring rules, rebuffing an olive branch from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who pledged justice for seven killed in the demonstrations. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP)
In a dramatic escalation of ongoing student protests, demonstrators in the central Bangladesh district of Narsingdi stormed a local jail on Friday, freeing hundreds of inmates before setting the facility on fire, a police officer reported.
“The inmates fled the jail, and the protesters set the jail on fire,” the police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“I don’t know the exact number of inmates, but it would be in the hundreds.”
Moushumi Sarker, a senior government official in Narsingdi district, confirmed the jailbreak but did not provide further details.
Ripon, a local resident living near the jail, recounted seeing at least 20 men leaving the facility, carrying their belongings in handbags.
This incident comes amid a week of heightened tensions in Bangladesh, where at least 50 people have been killed following a police crackdown on student protests.
The demonstrations have been calling for reforms to public service hiring rules, leading to widespread unrest and violence. –
vanguard
A.I
July 19, 2024 @ 17:34 GMT|
Tags:
