DHAKA — In his first remarks on the death toll, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan confirmed on Sunday that at least 147 people were killed during recent violence triggered by student protests over government job quotas.

Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Asaduzzaman Khan stated that the deceased include students, police, activists, and people from various professions.

He added that further investigations are underway to determine the total death toll, with independent estimates suggesting the toll could be more than 200.

Earlier in the day, the government restored mobile internet services after a 10-day blackout. Junior Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced that services would resume at 3 p.m. local time (0900 GMT).

Due to the disruption, users will receive a 5 GB data bonus for three days. However, social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube remain restricted.

The government had initially shut down mobile internet on July 17 and broadband service on July 18 as violence escalated during the protests.

Broadband internet resumed on July 23, and the curfew imposed to manage the law and order situation has started to relax, although schools and other educational institutions remain closed.

Clashes began on July 15 between police and student protesters demanding the abolition of a quota that reserved 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in the 1971 war of independence.

In response to the chaos, the Supreme Court ordered the government to reduce job quotas. The 30% quota for veterans' descendants was cut to 5%, and quotas for ethnic minorities, transgender people, and disabled people were limited to 2%. — Agencies