No Filipinos hurt in Bangladesh protests
MANILA, Philippines — There are no reports of Filipinos among those injured in nationwide student protests in Bangladesh, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
The Filipino community in Bangladesh was advised to exercise caution following the protests that have turned violent and have paralyzed public transport.
“The Embassy continues to coordinate with leaders of the Filipino Community to check on the safety of their members and to see if any of our kababayan have been affected by the protests and need assistance,” Ambassador to Dhaka Vicente Vivencio Bandillo said.
According to Bandillo, the Philippine Embassy sent an advisory to the estimated 500 Filipinos in Bangladesh when students started protests over the government's inaction on the deaths of two students killed by speeding buses.
Over the weekend, Dhaka police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of demonstrating students, leaving at least 40 people injured.
The traffic chaos of the past week began easing on Monday, as immense demonstrations gave way to sporadic protests, though hundreds of students clashed with police in Dhaka's Bashundhara area where some private universities are located.
The protests have become a major embarrassment to the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which faces a general election later this year.
On Monday, Bangladesh's Cabinet endorsed a draft law that would increase the maximum punishment for an accident leading to death to five years in jail, up from the current three years.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the bill will be submitted to Parliament soon for passage.
The student protesters have demanded tougher punishment for offenses involving road accidents.
Hasina's party is blaming the main opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and its main ally Jamaat-e-Islami, saying they are manipulating student anger to foment trouble.
Authorities have warned of tougher measures if the protests are used to create chaos. — Patricia Lourdes Viray with Associated Press
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