In the recent days, peaceful protests in Bangladesh against the government's job quota system have transformed into widespread unrest, characterized by clashes between students and police, along with attacks by ruling party supporters. These protests have become one of the biggest challenges faced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration, as demands for accountability grow.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has responded to the demonstrations by scrapping most of the quotas, stating that 93 percent of government jobs will now be based on merit. However, student leaders continue to press for the release of jailed protesters and the resignation of officials, including Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, whom they hold responsible for the violence that has resulted in at least 131 deaths.

Despite authorities' silence on casualty figures, reports from prominent Bengali language daily, Prothom Alo, and English daily, The Daily Star, suggest that the death toll may be upwards of 146 and 127, respectively. Over 70 percent of these reported deaths have occurred in the capital city of Dhaka, where the streets bear witness to the remnants of tear gas shells, sound grenades, rubber bullets, and brick chunks.

The deceased individuals comprise mostly students and ordinary citizens, while only two policemen and two ruling party supporters have been included in the count. Students like Ahsan Habib, who actively participated in the protests, recount their experiences of being met with violence from both the police and ruling party members during their demonstrations. Habib lamented, "We were fighting against bullets with brick chunks. There were not only police, but also people from the ruling party who were wearing helmets and firing live bullets towards us."

The protests have generated wider demands beyond quota reform. Some citizens are calling for an apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who initially defended the quota system that favored veterans. The protesters view Hasina as an "autocrat," especially due to allegations of vote rigging and widespread irregularities during the last two elections.

The government responded to the escalating violence by imposing a curfew and deploying the army to quell further chaos. However, these measures have been defied by thousands of protesters, both students and non-students, who continue to take to the streets, block roads and highways, and target government buildings, ruling party offices, and the houses of party leaders.

One journalist observing the protests noted a shift in the nature of the demonstrations, saying that it is "no longer confined within students" but has attracted support from the broader population dissatisfied with Hasina's regime. The unrest intensified to such an extent that an internet blackout was enforced, crippling communication and impeding the daily lives of citizens.

The continued protests in Bangladesh reflect the anger and frustration of its citizens, who are demanding not just the reform of the job quota system, but also accountability for the loss of lives during the demonstrations. As the country grapples with the aftermath of this widespread unrest, it remains to be seen whether the government will undertake meaningful steps to address the grievances of its people and restore calm.