Centre County vigil commemorates Bangladesh students killed in protest

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — On Tuesday in Centre County, families came together during a candlelight vigil to honor all Bangladesh students who lost their lives while protesting on July 15.

What started as a peaceful protest in their home country quickly turned into police opening fire at students. They were protesting against the government’s job quota system, which allocated a 56% quota for freedom fighters.

Those under the quota had received jobs, but other students did not. Organizers say the vigil was a commemorative way to remember those students.

“Amidst all this protest, a lot of students got killed, kidnapped, and abused so now the protest is not about the quota. It’s about justice for those students because they were killed,” Nur Ayeen, President of the Bangladesh Cultural Club, said.

As of July 23, the death toll from the protests is nearing 180 , with more than 2,500 people being arrested.

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This vigil was held by the Penn State University Bangladesh Cultural Club and its Bangladesh Student Association. They want to raise awareness of the issue as students continue suffering.

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