DESPITE brutal state repression of protest including the murder of protesting students, the public desecration of the bodies of victims and a shutdown of educational institutions in Bangladesh, the resistance movement of students and others in that country has continued to gather strength.

The Bangladeshi government has admitted that at least 147 protesters have been killed so far by state police and militias, but Amnesty International puts the number at over 200 and says that the Bangladeshi government has issued “shoot to kill” orders to its forces, including army units and militias, to put down the unrest.

Anger at unfair and nepotistic government employment practices has swelled into a general rage at what protesters consider to be structural injustice and corruption under a dictatorial regime.