Bangladeshi Unrest Escalates: State Broadcaster Attacked as Prime Minister’s Appeal Falls on Deaf Ears

In a dramatic escalation of ongoing civil unrest, Bangladeshi students set fire to the state broadcaster’s building in Dhaka, just a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's televised plea for calm. The incident marks a significant intensification of protests that have already claimed at least 39 lives and left hundreds injured.

The turmoil, which began as a demand for reform of civil service hiring rules, has rapidly evolved into a broader expression of discontent with the current administration. On Thursday, hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police, who responded with rubber bullets. The confrontation reached a fever pitch when demonstrators chased retreating officers to the headquarters of Bangladesh Television (BTV) in the capital.

In a shocking turn of events, the enraged crowd set ablaze the network’s reception building and dozens of vehicles parked outside. A BTV official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported to AFP that "many people" were initially trapped inside as the fire spread. However, a subsequent update confirmed that all occupants had been safely evacuated. As of Friday morning, Bangladesh Television remains offline, according to Reuters.

The government’s response to the escalating crisis has been swift and severe. A near-total shutdown of the nation’s internet was implemented, followed by a police statement detailing widespread destruction of government and law enforcement properties. Faruk Hossain, a spokesperson for Dhaka’s police force, told AFP, "About 100 policemen were injured in the clashes yesterday. Around 50 police booths were burnt."

Prime Minister Hasina, 76, has ordered the indefinite closure of schools and universities as authorities struggle to regain control of the deteriorating situation. Her televised address on Wednesday night, condemning the "murder" of protesters and vowing to punish those responsible regardless of political affiliation, appears to have had little effect in quelling the unrest.

The violence on Thursday saw a sharp increase in casualties, with at least 32 people killed, adding to the seven deaths reported earlier in the week. AFP’s tally of hospital casualty figures indicates that police weaponry was responsible for at least two-thirds of these fatalities.

The protests, which began as a campaign against the quota system reserving over half of civil service posts for specific groups, have morphed into a wider expression of dissatisfaction with Hasina’s governance. Critics argue that the quota scheme disproportionately benefits children of pro-government groups supporting Hasina, who has held power since 2009.

Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh expert at the University of Oslo, suggests that the protests have become a broader indictment of Hasina’s rule. "They are protesting against the repressive nature of the state. Protesters are questioning Hasina’s leadership, accusing her of clinging on to power by force," Hasan stated.

The government’s response has included widespread mobile internet outages and restricted access to social media platforms, particularly Facebook, which has been a key organizing tool for protesters. Telecommunications Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak justified these measures, claiming that social media had been "weaponized as a tool to spread rumors, lies, and disinformation."

As the unrest continues, the international community watches with growing concern. The escalating violence, coupled with the government’s heavy-handed response, raises questions about the stability of Bangladesh’s political landscape and the future of its democratic institutions.

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether dialogue and compromise can prevail over violence and repression. As Bangladesh grapples with this crisis, the world awaits to see if a peaceful resolution can be found to address the grievances of protesters while maintaining law and order in this South Asian nation of over 160 million people.