Bangladesh (MNN) — Bangladesh observed a national day of mourning yesterday, July 30, recognizing that nearly 150 people have lost their lives during student protests this month.
The unrest hinges on a former quota system that reserved 30% of government jobs for descendants of veterans. Paul, a gospel worker with A3 in Bangladesh, says when students first protested the quota, the government responded positively.
Photo of 2024 quota reform movement courtesy of Rayhan9d/Wikimedia Commons
“They said they will listen and talk about it. But later because of some misunderstanding, the situation got [much] worse,” he explains.
Eventually, “[the] government deployed [the] army and other forces because many of our national properties like train station, bus station, municipalities, corporation, so many things were attacked. To protect all those kinds of national resources, they introduced [a] curfew.”
Paul says that the situation is now more under control than it was last week. However, tensions remain between the government and protesters.
“There [is] still [some] communication going on between the two sides,” he says. “Please pray for the general people of Bangladesh — especially for the students, because we have some traumatized situation[s] because of last week, as many people died on the street.”
On Sunday July 21, the Supreme Court cut the job quotas from 30% to 5%. Since then, the government curfew has begun to ease. Pray for normal life to return soon so that A3’s gospel work can continue.
“We are not able to organize different types of ministry activities, because of this situation,” Paul says. “So we have been postponing or canceling different programs.”
Paul says the people of Bangladesh need courage and peace from God amid fear and trauma. “Pray for our leaders, so that they can also [make] decision[s] wisely.”
Learn more about A3’s ministry at a3leaders.org.
Header photo of 2024 quota reform movement courtesy of Rayhan9d/Wikimedia Commons.
