Bangladesh Protests: BTV Headquarters Torched Amid Deadly Clashes

According to TRT, On Thursday, an anonymous official at BTV told AFP that hundreds of protesters stormed the premises, torching at least 60 vehicles and an office building. "They first torched a police post at Rampura after police opened fire at them," the official said, referring to a neighborhood in the capital, Dhaka. "They chased the police officers who took refuge at the BTV office. Angry protesters then caused mayhem here."

BTV's verified Facebook page described the fire as "catastrophic" and "spreading fast," pleading for the fire service's cooperation to rescue those trapped inside.

The protests are a response to the government’s civil service hiring rules, which reserve a significant percentage of jobs for family members of those who fought in the 1971 War of Independence. The rules have sparked widespread anger among students, who are grappling with high youth unemployment.

The police have intensified their crackdown on the protests this week, resulting in violent clashes. Despite the fatalities, students have vowed to continue their nationwide demonstrations, demanding reforms to the civil service hiring system.