In a dramatic escalation of current student protests, protestors stormed a small jail in Narsingdi, central Bangladesh, on Friday, liberating hundreds of detainees before setting fire to it, according to a police officer.
Senior government official Moushumi Sarker of the Narsingdi area confirmed the jailbreak but did not elaborate.
Living close to the jail, Ripon, a local, recalled witnessing at least twenty men leave the building with their possessions in purses.
This episode occurs during a week of increased unrest in Bangladesh, where a police crackdown on student rallies has resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people.
Widespread disruption and violence have resulted from the demonstrations, which have called for changes to the recruiting practices for public servants.
What they’re saying
The inmates fled the jail, and the protesters set it on fire,” claimed the police officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“The exact number of inmates is unknown, but it is likely in hundred of them”
Bottom Line
The police crackdown on student rallies, which has resulted in numerous deaths, appears to have further inflamed tensions. The heavy-handed approach may have contributed to the radicalization of the protests, leading to extreme actions such as the jailbreak.
