On July 18, 2024, an anti-quota protest was held in Dhaka. Hasina, who promised justice for the seven victims of the demonstrations.
– | AFP | Getty Images
Bangladeshi soldiers patrolled the deserted streets of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, imposing a curfew to quell deadly student-led protests against government employment quotas that have killed at least 105 people this week.
Internet and text messaging services have been suspended since Thursday, cutting Bangladesh off from the world as police suppressed protests that continued despite a ban on public gatherings.
Most overseas phone calls are unreachable, the websites of Bangladeshi media organizations have not been updated, and their social media accounts remain inactive.
In addition to the deaths, thousands of people were injured in the clashes, according to hospital data across Bangladesh. Dhaka Medical College Hospital received 27 bodies between 5pm and 7pm (1100-1200 GMT) on Friday.
For five days, demonstrators have clashed with security forces, throwing bricks and setting vehicles on fire, with police firing tear gas and throwing sonic grenades to disperse protesters.
The demonstrations are the largest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was elected to a fourth consecutive term this year and are fueled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the South Asian country’s 170 million people. .
Hasina’s government imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the army as police were unable to contain the protests as the death toll mounted.
The curfew was relaxed for two hours from noon on Saturday to allow people to buy supplies and complete other chores, TV channels reported. The report added that the activity will last until 10 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday, when the government will assess the situation and decide on next steps.
Television footage showed military personnel at various checkpoints checking the ID cards of those who ventured onto the streets.
Riots broke out across the country as students raged over controversial events quota Government jobs, 30% of which are for families of those who fought for Pakistan’s independence.
Hasina’s government abolished the quota system in 2018, but a court reinstated it last month. The state appealed the reinstatement, and the Supreme Court suspended the decision for a month pending an Aug. 7 hearing.
Protesters stormed a prison in central Dhaka’s Narsingdi district on Friday, freed more than 850 inmates and then set the facility on fire, TV channels said, citing police sources. Scattered incidents of arson were also reported on Saturday.
AFP quoted Hasina’s press secretary as saying that Hasina had abandoned plans to visit Spain and Brazil on Sunday because of the protests.
Tariq Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said many opposition leaders, activists and student protesters had been arrested. Police arrested Nahid Islam, the main coordinator of the student unrest, at 2 a.m. on Saturday, protesters said in a text message.
Reuters could not independently confirm the arrests.
International human rights groups criticized the suspension and the actions of security forces. The EU said it was deeply concerned about the violence and casualties.
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