Three die in fresh Bangladesh student protests amid telecoms disruptions
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00:00Here in Dhaka, escalating tensions are inflicting a heavy toll, as clashes between student protesters
00:07and armed riot police continue, leaving tens of people dead and hundreds wounded.
00:12After police fired rubber bullets at the crowd, protesters chased officers to the state broadcaster
00:18BTV, before setting the reception alight.
00:21Students speak of severe brutality at the hands of the police, aided by pro-government
00:26student groups.
00:28The Chhatra League, the ruling party's student wing and the police tortured our friends
00:32who were in a rally today and beat them brutally.
00:36Why are these rubber bullets being fired, tear gas being lobbed, brickbats being thrown
00:41towards students? Why would the police beat students? They ought to be friends of people
00:46and students. Why is the police force against us? We want proper justice.
00:51The BTV attack comes a day after the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the
00:56network to call for calm. The protesters are fighting to end a quota system for government
01:01jobs, in which 30% of the roles are reserved for descendants of veterans who fought in
01:06Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence.
01:10Protesters want an end to this quota system. They say it's discriminatory and benefits
01:14supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence
01:19movement. Instead, they want a system that's based on merit.
01:23To quell the protest, Bangladeshi authorities have launched a near-total internet blackout
01:28with an indefinite school and university closure. According to Amnesty International, there's
01:33evidence that security forces have used unlawful force against students.