Dhaka, July 28– The government has reported that 147 people have been killed in the violence and vandalism surrounding the quota reform movement. The deceased include ordinary citizens, students, members of the Awami League and allied organizations, journalists, and some police officers.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal provided this information in response to questions from journalists at his office in the Secretariat on Sunday. He stated that further investigations are ongoing to ascertain the exact number of fatalities and to categorize them by gender, profession, and other factors.
The violence intensified on July 17, with initial reports of several deaths, including a student at Begum Rokeya University. The death toll rose significantly over the following two days as violence spread nationwide.
There has been widespread confusion and varying reports about the number of fatalities. Different media outlets have reported different figures, leading to uncertainty. The government had not previously released an official death toll.
Addressing the discrepancies in the reported numbers, the Home Minister said, “Sometimes it is said that 500 people have died. In fact, confusion is being spread about the death toll. The exact number of students and other individuals who have died is not yet known. Further information will be verified.”
The government continues its efforts to compile accurate data on the fatalities and is working to ensure that the final report reflects a precise count of those affected by the violence surrounding the quota reform movement.
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