Total arrests in Bangladesh rise to over 1200: Reports

The total number of arrests made in days of violence in Bangladesh during the protests over employment quotascrossed 1,200 on Tuesday (July 22), according to an AFP tally of detentions.

At least 173 people have died, including several police officers, according to a separate AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals.

According to senior police officials 68 had been arrested in the industrial city of Gazipur, 75 in the northern city of Rangpur, and 60 in Barisal in the south.

In the rural and industrial part of Dhaka 80 people were arrested, on top of an earlier figure of at least 532 for the capital itself, taking thetotal to 1,195.

Notably, Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Sunday (July 21) scaled back -- but did not abolish -– a controversial quota system for civil service job applicants after the scheme's reintroduction last month precipitated deadly nationwide civil strife.

Nationwide unrest broke out in Bangladesh following student anger against quotas in government jobs that included reserving 30 per cent for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government had scrapped the quota system in 2018, but a court reinstated it last month.

The demonstrations - the biggest since Hasina was re-elected for a fourth successive term this year - have also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people.

(With inputs from agencies)