UPDATE 2 - Gatherings banned in Dhaka as student protests leave 45 dead in Bangladesh

UPDATES WITH RISE IN DEATH TOLL, MORE DETAILS; CHANGES HEADER

By Faisal Mahmud, SM Najmus Sakib, and Riyaz ul Khaliq

DHAKA, Bangladesh/ISTANBUL (AA) - Authorities in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Friday banned any large procession or gathering as the death toll in the ongoing violent student protests against the jobs quota system climbed to 45.

Most of the deaths were reported in Dhaka, police sources told Anadolu correspondent in the capital.

More than 2,000 people have been injured during the clashes across the country, health sources said.

The sources added that 38 people were killed during clashes between protesters and security forces on Thursday.

Amid the volatile situation in the country, the government has asked the Bangladeshi military to protect the residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Reports of severe clashes were received from parts of Dhaka, the center of protests against reservations in public jobs.

According to eyewitnesses, at least three people were injured on Friday when police opened fire on processions taken out by left-wing parties in the capital.

Demonstrations have also been held in the port city of Chittagong, as well as in Narayan Ganj.

Besides police, paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation.

- Ruling party offers reducing quota to 20%

The South Asian nation has seen protests against the 56% quota system in public jobs surge this week, with the government closing educational institutions across Bangladesh.

Students have, however, refused to leave the college and university campuses.

Some 30% of the 56% quota in public jobs have been reserved for sons and grandsons of those who participated in Bangladesh’s war of liberation in 1971.

There is a near-total information blackout with no broadband and mobile internet connectivity in the country.

Social media has also been restricted.

Most of the local media outlets have not updated their websites after the government shut down the internet.

Protesters on Thursday also set ablaze the building of the state-run TV in Dhaka.

The ruling Awami League party's secretary-general has offered negotiations to the protesting students which were rejected.

Its offer includes reducing the quota in public jobs to 20%.

The government has decided to file an appeal on Sunday with the Supreme Court to reduce the quota to 20%.

The ruling party canceled its “peace procession” on Friday while the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party had called for protests this afternoon.

Trade and businesses are partially shut in Dhaka due to violent demonstrations.

The government has announced a judicial commission to probe the killings.