US condemns violence in Bangladesh protests, calls on gov't to restore internet service

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday condemned recent acts of violence in Bangladesh's quota-system protests and expressed concern over reports of telecommunications disruptions across the country.

"We condemn all recent acts of violence in Bangladesh and reiterate our unwavering support for peaceful assembly," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"In addition, we remain deeply concerned by reports of ongoing telecommunications disruptions across the country, which limits the ability of people in Bangladesh including American citizens to access critical information. We call on the government to restore internet service," he added.

Miller also condemned the reported shoot-on-site orders that have been given and called for those orders to be rescinded.

He also reiterated that media freedom is an essential building block of a thriving democracy.

Bangladesh has seen protests surge last week against a quota system that reserved 30% of public jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in the South Asian country's war of independence in 1971.

Dozens died in the violence as students and other protesters clashed with police and armed activists from the ruling party's student wings in the past few days.

While police are no longer confirming the death toll, Anadolu was able to gather from a network of hospital sources and local journalists that at least 143 people have lost their lives in the upheaval as of Monday.

On Sunday, the country’s Supreme Court scrapped a verdict reinstating the quotas, instead directing the government to issue an order lowering the quota to 7%, making recruitment for the remaining 93% based on merit.

Student leaders of the ongoing anti-quota movement now demand the government to follow through with the court’s instructions but Law Minister Anisul Hug has argued that the verdict alone should be "good enough" to call off the protests.