Bangladesh TV goes off air as anti-quota protesters set fire to TV station; mobile internet blocked

High Commission of India in Dhaka cautions citizens in Bangladesh amid violent protests, offers consular support.

The High Commission of India has cautioned Indian citizens and students in Bangladesh to “minimise” their movement beyond their “living premises”. Thursday’s cautionary note came against the backdrop of day long clashes between the police, and students and political activists who have been demanding an end to quotas in government jobs.

As part of the crackdown, Bangladeshi authorities blocked mobile internet on Thursday evening.

The Indian government has not made any official statement on the protests, which began last week and became one of the factors behind Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cutting short her visit to China.

Protesters also surrounded and set fire to one of the major broadcasting units of State-run Bangladesh TV (BTV) in Dhaka. Local sources said that several BTV staffers were inside the television station at the time.

In a Facebook post, BTV announced, “Dangerous fire in BTV spreading fast. Seeking quick response of the fire department. A large number of people are trapped inside.” The condition of the staffers in the BTV station in Rampura remained unknown till Thursday evening as the state broadcaster went off the air and internet connectivity slowed down in Dhaka.

According to German State-run media DW, at least 19 people were killed in the clashes on Thursday.

Protesters have been seeking equal opportunities for government jobs in Bangladesh, where special quotas are reserved for the veterans of the War of Liberation, minorities, and tribal communities. The protesters claim that a bulk of government employment is being denied to eligible candidates because of this quota system. The confrontation, which has been brewing for several weeks, erupted last week as the government initially showed an inflexible attitude. After the latest clashes, however, Bangladeshi Law Minister Anisul Huq declared that the Sheikh Hasina government was ready to hold a dialogue with the protesters.