As deadly protests in Bangladesh escalate, Pakistani students in the country have been relocated to safe areas to ensure their safety, according to a Foreign Office spokesperson on Saturday.
The protests, led by students against the job quota system, have resulted in at least 110 deaths this week. In response, the Bangladeshi government has deployed the army to control the violence.
For five days, police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades to disperse protesters who have been throwing bricks and setting vehicles on fire.
The Foreign Office assured that Pakistani students in Dhaka and other Bangladeshi cities have been moved to secure locations. The spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan’s mission in Dhaka is in contact with all Pakistani students, and the deputy head of the mission has met some students in Chittagong.
“All students are safe,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the Pakistani High Commission has accommodated them in safe sites, including the high commission building, the Pakistani ambassador’s residence, and other secure locations.
Read More: Bangladesh shuts offices, imposes curfew to curb deadly job quota protests
The demonstrations, the largest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected for a fourth successive term, have also been driven by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the population.
With the death toll rising and security forces struggling to contain the protests, Hasina’s government has imposed a national curfew and deployed the military, with orders to shoot on sight if necessary.
On Saturday, soldiers patrolled the deserted streets of Dhaka, setting up roadblocks during the curfew. Internet and text message services have been suspended since Thursday, cutting off communication as police crack down on protesters defying a ban on public gatherings.
Overseas telephone calls have mostly failed to connect, and websites of Bangladesh-based media organizations have not updated, with their social media accounts remaining inactive.
