Bangladesh shuts schools and universities after six killed in protests
Al Jazeera
Students rallying against quotas in public sector jobs clash with government supporters and police.
Bangladesh has ordered schools and universities across the country to close indefinitely after six people were killed in protests over quotas in government jobs.
Every high school, university and Islamic seminary was told to remain shut until further notice following weeks of escalating demonstrations against civil service hiring policies.
Tuesday saw a significant escalation in violence as demonstrators and pro-government student groups attacked each other with bricks and bamboo rods, and police dispersed rallies with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Ministry of Education spokesman MA Khair said the shutdown order was issued for “the security of the students”.
At least six people were killed on Tuesday as demonstrators mobilised for another day in several cities, defying earlier calls by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Supreme Court to return to class.
