Bangladeshis turn Facebook red in protest of quota deaths

Many Bangladeshis, including teachers, cultural activists, writers and students, on Tuesday changed their Facebook profile pictures to red, protesting deaths during the recent quota reform movement.

The trend began after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Monday night urged people to post photos with red cloths over their faces, rejecting the government's call for a day of mourning.

So far, 211 deaths have been reported in the clashes. The government's mourning day was declared after a cabinet meeting on Monday.

Many who changed their profile pictures added captions with hashtags and poems. Government supporters, however, switched their profiles to black.

Teachers and students from Rajshahi and Jahangirnagar universities held silent marches with red cloths tied around their faces, ending in rallies.

Simultaneously, student organisations like the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Union, and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front displayed red frames on their Facebook pages.

Leaders and activists from these organisations also changed their profile pictures to red.

Meanwhile, leaders of various affiliated organisations of the ruling Awami League added black frames to their profiles in support of the state mourning.

Central General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, along with other central leaders, displayed black frames on their profiles.