Protests in Bangladesh

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It began as a peaceful student protest against the way some government jobs are reserved for war veterans and their families. The violence that followed is some of the worst the country has witnessed in recent years. More than 200 people are reported dead, with most blamed on police gunfire. Host James Reynolds speaks with those in Bangladesh and hears stories of what they have witnessed; their fears for their safety and that of friends and family. They describe being afraid to leave their homes and being unable to sleep and eat. We also bring together Bangladeshis living abroad and hear about the difficulty of being thousands of miles from loved ones. Anika, who is living in the UK, learnt from a relative in the United States that her uncle in Bangladesh had been shot and killed while on his way to the mosque to pray. “I couldn’t do anything,” said Anika. "I couldn’t attend the funeral. I just kept asking myself how can I help his family. They don’t really need money but they just need mental support and I can’t even call them. There’s no way to call them. I’m sad here too.” A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team. (Photo: Anti-quota protesters call for nationwide 'March for Justice' in Bangladesh, Dhaka - 31 Jul 2024. Credit: MONIRUL ALAM/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)