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Bangladesh Quota Reform Leader Claims Abduction, Abuse By Authorities Asif Mahmud, a top coordinator of Bangladesh's quota reform movement that had turned violent resulting in over 150 deaths, claims to have been abducted and abused by authorities.Speaking to Reuters in a virtual interview from an undisclosed location, Mahmud claims he was administered powerful sedatives multiple times to isolate him from other coordinators.He added that detectives apprehended another coordinator, Nahid Islam, at his home.Both were eventually released, with Nahid visibly displaying bruises on his hands, as reported in local media.The protests escalated to violence on the night of July 15, and since then 150 people were killed as security forces cracked down on gatherings against quotas in government jobs that were reinstated by a high court order last month during an unemployment crisis.The quotas included reservations for families of fighters in the 1971 independence war.The protests tailed off after the Supreme Court ruled on Sunday (July 21) in favour of an appeal from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government and directed that 93% of jobs should be open to candidates on merit.Mahmud emphasised that the movement has evolved beyond its initial demand for quota reform; in light of numerous deaths associated with the protests, it has now morphed into a broader movement for justice.