Bangladesh protests leave bloody memories for families of those killed

The last memory of his younger brother that Mir Mahmudur Rahman left is a bloodstained ID card.

“We haven’t cleaned it up yet, we want it to stay that way forever,” Mr Rahman, who goes by the pseudonym Dipto, told ABC from his home in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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His brother, 25-year-old MBA student Mir Mahfuzur Rahman, known affectionately as Mughdo, was wearing the note around his neck when he was shot in the head two weeks ago.

“My mother fainted… and after seeing him I couldn’t say anything, I just had to cry,” Dipto said.

Mughdo was killed in one of the bloodiest uprisings Bangladesh has seen in years.

He died while helping protesters.

Disappointed by the lack of stable jobs, students across the country are demanding the abolition of the quota system that reserved 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence.

Protesters wanted to abolish the system, which they said was discriminatory and favoured supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party, which led the independence movement.

They want it to be replaced with a merit-based system.

As the protests spread, mobile internet access was cut off, a nationwide curfew was imposed, and the military and police were deployed.

Violence broke out as clashes broke out between thousands of anti-quota protesters and members of the Awami League’s student wing.

Mughdo’s family said he was not directly involved in the protests but attended to distribute water and cookies to help students.

“My father warned him that if it (politically) changes, don’t go there. But if you want to help people, you can help people,” Dipto said.

Dipto said that on July 18, as his brother was resting on the side of the road during a demonstration, a bullet passed through his right ear.

The government and the opposition blame each other

It is the biggest challenge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has faced since she won a historic fifth term in office in January.

The elections were boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and saw deadly protests.

Last month, the Bangladesh Supreme Court scrapped most quotas and ordered 93 percent of government jobs to be filled on merit.

But the protests have continued and are now a reflection of broader frustrations over the economy, corruption and an authoritarian turn of power under Ms Hasina.

Landing…

Many sides – including Bangladeshi opposition parties – have accused the government of state-sponsored violence.

“We saw uncontrolled shooting, security forces used lethal bullets and various weapons, including helicopters, were used against ordinary, unarmed protesters,” Zonayed Saki, a politician and the chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolan party, told ABC.

The government has denied the accusations and blamed opposition parties for the deadly violence.

“In the very beginning there was no police, everything was managed by people who protested for a short period of time, in a very disciplined manner,” Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury told ABC.

“But then the situation got out of control when a third force intervened.

Last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the Bangladeshi government to reveal details of the repression of the protests, amid mounting reports of “appalling” violence.

“The latest reports indicate that more than 170 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured. Some of them have been deprived of medical care, and many have gone missing as a result of student and youth movement protests against government policies,” he said.

“The authorities must also provide guarantees that the protests will not be repeated and ensure that there will be no reprisals against those involved in the protests.”

According to sources, almost 10,000 people were detained on charges of participating in riots and destroying government property.

Government accused of intimidating protesters

Despite support from international human rights groups, many student leaders and victims’ families approached by ABC were wary of opposing Ms Hasina’s government.

Hospitals where injured protesters are being treated are under strict police surveillance.

Law enforcement officers also conduct frequent block raids in Dhaka.

This happens when large numbers of law enforcement officers cordon off an area and position themselves at exit points, preventing anyone from escaping.

They then search houses and arrest people based on the information they obtain.

As the journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, said, it’s about instilling fear.

Student leader Umama Fatehma, who has been actively coordinating and campaigning during the ongoing protests, said she would not be intimidated.

She vowed to continue protesting as long as it takes to seek justice.