Ten dead in Bangladesh as continued employment quota protests ...

At least 16 people have died amid student protests in Bangladesh over a quota system for allocating government jobs.

The quota system was halted after mass student protests in 2018, but reinstated last month following a ruling by Bangladesh's High Court.

The Supreme Court has suspended the High Court's ruling and is expected to rule on August 7.

Police clashed with student protesters in Bangladesh on Thursday as the students attempted a "complete shutdown" of capital city Dhaka.

Ten people died in Thursday's clashes — the highest toll in a single day so far — including a bus driver whose body was brought to a hospital with a bullet wound to his chest, a rickshaw-puller and three students, officials told Reuters.

Six people were killed on Tuesday, leading the government to ask universities across the country to close and police to raid the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party's headquarters.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina insists there will be a judicial investigation into Tuesday's deaths and vows those responsible will be brought to justice.

"Some precious lives have been lost unnecessarily," she said.

"I condemn every killing."

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk posted on X that all acts of violence and deadly use of force must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.

Mr Türk said freedom of expression and peaceful assembly were fundamental human rights.

At least 10 people died in Thursday's clashes, the highest toll in a single day so far.(AP: Rajib Dhar)

The confrontation follows days of violence over a quota system of allocating government jobs, which students say favours allies of the ruling party.

While job opportunities have expanded in Bangladesh's private sector, many people prefer government jobs because they are stable and well-paid.

Each year, around 400,000 graduates compete for 3,000 jobs in the civil service exam.

The quota system reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971.

Students argue this system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Ms Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement, and they want it replaced with a merit-based system.

Ms Hasina's government halted the quotas after mass student protests in 2018.

But relatives of the 1971 veterans filed petitions to have it reinstated, prompting Bangladesh's High Court to nullify the prime minister's 2018 decision last month.

The Supreme Court has suspended the High Court's ruling and is expected to rule on August 7.

The government has also appealed the High Court's decision in the wake of the protests, according to the attorney-general's office.

Bangladesh's Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government was seeking an early hearing.

"I have already asked the attorney-general to appeal in the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking early hearing," he told reporters.

Friday and Saturday are parts of the weekend in Bangladesh. The court opens on Sunday.

"I am requesting all to wait with patience until the verdict is delivered," Ms Hasina said in a televised address Wednesday evening.

"I believe our students will get justice from the apex court. They will not be disappointed."

The protests first escalated on Monday, when violence broke out between protesters, police and pro-government student activists on the Dhaka University campus.

On Wednesday night, the protesters responded to security officials' continued attacks on campus demonstrators by announcing their plans for a "complete shutdown" of the country beginning the next day.

The opposition BNP said it would do what it could to make the shutdown a success.

Detective Chief Harun-or-Rashid said police arrested seven members of the party's student wing and found 100 crude bombs, 500 wooden and bamboo sticks and five-to-six bottles of gasoline in the raid.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a senior BNP leader, said the raid was a government attempt to divert attention from the protests.

The protesters announced their plans for a "complete shutdown" of the country on Wednesday night.(AP: Rajib Dhar)

Protesters attempted to enforce the violence on Thursday morning, blocking the road in Dhaka's Uttara neighbourhood until police gave chase.

In other places, police fired tear gas and charged with batons to disperse the protesters — who threw stones in response.

Scores, including police, were injured in the violence, a spokesperson for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said.

Police also said protesters attacked and set fire to a traffic police box and vandalised police vehicles amid clashes across the city.

Dhaka's usually clogged streets saw thin traffic on Thursday and many malls in the area closed.

Offices and banks opened, but commuters complained that transport was limited.

Police set up checkpoints at the entrances to Dhaka University.

Local television reported violence in other cities including Chattogram and Khulna, while protesters also blocked some major highways.

Salma Rahman, an official at a financial institution in Dhaka, said she left her car at home and caught a ride on a motorcycle.

"Our office has alerted us to stay safe on streets, as there is fear that violence could happen during the shutdown."

Mr Huq revealed on Thursday afternoon that the prime minister asked him to sit down with the protesters for a dialogue, and he was ready to speak with them if protesters were willing.

AP/ABC