Bangladesh death toll rises to 16 in nationwide anti-quota protests

Thousands of students armed with sticks and rocks clashed with armed police in Dhaka on July 18 as the Bangladesh authorities cut some mobile internet services to quell anti-quota protests that have killed at least 16 people this week, Report informs referring to Reuters.

The nationwide agitation, the biggest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected for a fourth time, is fuelled by high unemployment among the youth, with nearly a fifth of the 170 million population out of work or education.

Protesters are demanding the state stop setting aside 30% of government jobs for families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Ten people died in clashes with police on Thursday in Dhaka - the highest toll in a single day so far - including a bus driver whose body was brought to a hospital with a bullet wound to his chest, a rickshaw-puller and three students, officials told Reuters.

Hundreds more were injured as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up protesters who torched vehicles, police posts and other establishments, witnesses said.