The government of Bangladesh, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has declared a nationwide curfew and deployed military forces to restore order following days of violent protests over the allocation of government jobs. The announcement was made on Friday evening by Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League party.
The decision comes in the wake of escalating tensions that have resulted in multiple fatalities. Earlier on Friday, security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the capital, Dhaka, leading to several deaths. While exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed, local media reports suggest the death toll could be significant.
These protests began several weeks ago but intensified dramatically this week. It is said that this latest event is the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Hasina’s administration since her controversial re-election in January. The unrest centers around a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government positions for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.
Demonstrators, primarily students and young graduates argue that this system is discriminatory and favors supporters of the ruling party. They are calling for its replacement with a merit-based approach. However, Prime Minister Hasina has defended the quota, arguing that it is important to honor the veterans’ contributions regardless of political affiliations.
The government’s response to the protests has been forceful. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across Dhaka to secure university campuses and disperse gatherings. On Friday, authorities in the capital announced a ban on all demonstrations.
Adding to the turmoil, Bangladesh has experienced widespread internet disruptions, with social media platforms and mobile data services largely inaccessible in Dhaka. The country’s Telecommunication Regulatory Commission attributed these outages to damage inflicted on their data center by protesters, although this claim could not be independently verified.
The unrest has highlighted deeper issues within Bangladesh, including economic challenges and a shortage of quality job opportunities for young graduates. Despite the country’s steady economic growth under Hasina’s leadership, rising inflation, and limited government job openings have fueled discontent among the youth.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has scheduled a hearing for Sunday to address the controversial quota system. Prime Minister Hasina has urged protesters to await the court’s verdict patiently, expressing confidence that “justice” will be served.