Three student leaders in Bangladesh were taken into custody ‘for their own security’ following protests against government job quotas.
Bangladeshi authorities removed three student leaders from a hospital after coordinating rallies against government job quotas led to nationwide protests, curfews, and communication blocks.
The police discharged the leaders from the hospital in Dhaka, with the Home Minister stating that they were taken into custody for their own safety. Security forces also detained a ward boy and confiscated the phones of the leaders’ family members.
The protests stemmed from opposition to a job quota system, later modified by the Supreme Court, resulted in deadly clashes. Student leaders have issued demands, including a public apology from the Prime Minister and the removal of various officials.
The UN high commissioner for human rights called for an independent investigation into alleged violations during the protests, which have disrupted normalcy and impacted the economy.