Bangladesh students reject PM's olive branch after deadly protests

Students clash with riot police during a protest against a quota system for government jobs, in Dhaka on July 18, 2024. - AP

DHAKA: Bangladeshi students pressed on Thursday (July 18) with nationwide protests against civil service hiring rules, rebuffing an olive branch from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who pledged justice for 18 killed in the demonstrations.

Hasina's government has ordered schools and universities to close indefinitely and stepped up efforts to contain weeks of rallies demanding equal access to public sector jobs.