Several children killed during protests against reservation in Bangladesh: UNICEF

Several children killed during protests against reservation in Bangladesh: UNICEF

Saturday, August 3, 2024

The United Nations agency UNICEF says that several children have died during student protests against reservation in Bangladesh.

UNICEF, a UN agency working for children, says that at least 32 children have died during student protests in Bangladesh.

A UNICEF spokesperson says that one of the children killed was not even five years old. Most of the people killed were just watching the protest.

According to the figures verified by BBC Bangla, these children are among the 200 people who have died during the protests over reservation in government jobs in Bangladesh.

UNICEF's South Asia Regional Director Sanjay Wijesekara says that during his visit to Bangladesh this week, he was informed about the detention of children.

Sanjay Wijesekera has said that the organization has confirmed the death of 32 children.

A spokesperson for the UN agency said that most of the dead were aged 13 or above. One child was under five years of age and one child was between six and 12 years of age.

Bangladesh's junior information minister Mohammad Ali Arafat has said that the government has no information regarding UNICEF's claims.

Mohammad Ali Arafat told the BBC that he does not know where UNICEF got these figures from. Mohammad Ali Arafat said, "Our stand is clear, whoever has died, we will investigate it and punish the culprits."

Bangladesh's students are demanding justice for those injured, killed and arrested in the protests.