[Today’s Prayer] Bangladesh resumes protests against 'public office quota'... Aftereffects of ‘hard-line suppression’

The protests among Bangladeshi college students, which seemed to have entered a lull, are expected to reignite. As the reality of hard-line suppression continues to be revealed, student groups have warned that they will resume protests unless the protesters are released and those responsible for hard-line suppression are punished.

According to AFP on the 28th (local time), the Bangladeshi student organization 'Students Against Discrimination' announced on this day, "We will resume protests if student leaders are not released from detention." Abdul Hannan Massoud, who represents the group, demanded, “These people should be released and the charges against them should be dropped.”

Earlier this month, a large-scale student protest took place in Bangladesh against the 'quota system for public office for descendants of independence fighters'. When the government pursued a policy in 1971 to allocate 30% of government jobs to children of veterans of the War of Independence, young people who were tired of high unemployment, economic stagnation, and government corruption rose up.

On the 24th, the protests seemed to have entered a lull as the government accepted the Supreme Court's arbitration plan to reduce the quota for children of independence fighters to 5%, but the authorities' repression continued. On the 26th, plainclothes police forcibly discharged three protest leaders who were hospitalized due to injuries suffered from torture and beatings. According to the hospital's explanation, the police pressured them to be discharged even though the medical staff had expired. The government claimed that their forced discharge was “for their safety.”

As a result, students announced another protest. Abdul Hannan Massoud said, “Significant action should be taken (against the ministers and police officers responsible for the deaths of protesters). “Otherwise, we will have no choice but to hold strong protests starting on the 29th.”

It is estimated that more than 200 people have died and more than 4,000 have been arrested as the government launched a hard-line crackdown. As there is no official government announcement, the discrepancy between the figures is large, and the Bangladeshi daily Protomalo reported that more than 9,000 people were arrested across the country.

Source: News

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31)

Lord, we hear the sad news that the Bangladeshi student protests, which seemed to have reached a lull, may be on the rise again.

Lord have mercy on the youth of Bangladesh, who have already lost over 200 lives in these protests and over 4,000 have been arrested, but are determined to keep the protests going.

Shine the light of truth among these young people who are tired of high unemployment, economic stagnation, and government corruption.

Let the YGs of Bangladesh see the light of Jesus Christ, the true savior in an increasingly dark times.

Through the light, may they realize the futility of all ideals and ideologies that have been exalted above your Word, and may they rise up as young men and women who will turn from all the ways they have been walking and run toward the truth and find salvation.

Also, anoint them with the Holy Spirit and use them to spread the gospel as the only salvation for the youth of Bangladesh.

And so, throughout Bangladesh, salvation belongs to the Lamb who sits on the throne. Let only the sound of confessing praise fill this nation!