Amid rumours centering on the death toll in the countrywide quota protest-induced mayhem, the government has for the first time made it clear that around 147 people were killed in the violence involving the quota reform movement.
Addressing the media at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that the dead include police personnel, Awami League leaders and activists, students, and people from various professions.
"Further inquiries are underway to ascertain the death toll," he said, adding that the process to determine how many people of other professions are among the victims was ongoing.
The students` protests demanding reform in government job quota began on July 1. After the students’ clashes with the police and the Chhata League activists on Dhaka University campus on July 15, violence spread all over the country.