Bangladesh Protesting Students Set Prisoners Free Before Setting Prison on Fire

Student protesters in Narsingdi district, central Bangladesh, freed ‘hundreds’ of inmates from a local jail on Friday before setting the prison on fire, according to local police sources. A police officer, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed the jailbreak and fire but did not specify the exact number of escaped inmates, though he estimated it to be in the hundreds.

A senior government official also confirmed the jailbreak but withheld further details. The incident is part of a larger wave of unrest in Bangladesh. In response to escalating violence, Dhaka’s police force banned all public gatherings to prevent further clashes. Despite this, confrontations between police and protesters continued, even amid an internet shutdown aimed at hindering the organization of rallies.

The protests, which began on July 1 following the High Court’s reinstatement of the freedom fighters’ quota, have resulted in significant violence and disruptions. This quota reserves one-third of civil service posts for the descendants of freedom fighters. At least 64 people have reportedly died in the ongoing unrest, according to hospital counts.

Thousands of students, armed with sticks and rocks, have clashed with armed police in cities across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur, and Cumilla. The protests have led to widespread disruptions, particularly in transportation. Train services were heavily affected, with blockades in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, and Chattogram, causing significant hardship for the public.