Bangladesh to observe countrywide mourning Tuesday over quota protest deaths

In Bangladesh, the government will observe a day of national mourning on Tuesday (July 30) over deaths of people who were killed in the recent countrywide violence centering the Quota Reform Movement. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Monday chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Cabinet secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said this at a briefing later on the day at the secretariat. Everyone will wear black badges and prayers will be offered in mosques and temples, he added.

A total of 150 people died during the violence surrounding the quota reform protests, according to Home Minister Azaduzzaman Khan.

Among the deceased were police officers, Awami League leaders and activists, students, and individuals from various professions,” Azaduzzaman said during a press briefing in Dhaka on Sunday.

On monday, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified security measures across the country, particularly in key areas of Dhaka, to maintain law and order, said the Public Relations Officer of the BGB.

The increased security presence comes in response to new demonstrations by students in various parts of the country on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister of Bangladesh Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury on Monday said the government is yet to take any decision on reopening the educational institutes, which have remained closed due to the violence centering the quota reform movement.

On the recent situation in Bangladesh, the foreign ministry took note of the concerns expressed by some international partners, including civil society organisations and media.

‘The government wishes to assure all international partners that the overall situation is turning back to normalcy thanks to the timely and appropriate measures taken by the government and the people,’ said the foreign ministry statement.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has strongly condemned the illegal detention of coordinators of the quota reform movement by the Detective Branch (DB) and forced announcement of the withdrawal of their programme through video messages.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Monday stated in Dhaka that the arbitrary arrests and filing of cases against innocent people, including harassment of those unconnected to the violence, are unconstitutional.