BANGLADESH: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government imposed a nationwide curfew late Friday and deployed military forces after days of violent protests against government job quotas.
The protests, led by students, turned deadly on Friday when police cracked down despite a ban on public gatherings. According to local media, three people were killed in the clashes. The total number of deaths from the protests has risen to over 105, with at least 1,500 injured.
The US Embassy in Dhaka issued a security alert, describing the situation as "extremely volatile" and noting that violent clashes were spreading across the capital city.
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, announced the curfew, stating it was necessary to help the civilian administration maintain law and order.
In response to the unrest, the government has banned all public gatherings in Dhaka, disrupted telecommunications, and taken television news channels off the air. On Thursday, mobile internet networks were shut down to curb the protests.
Police and security officials used bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters in some areas. Train services were also suspended nationwide after agitators blocked roads and threw bricks at security officials. Schools and universities have been closed indefinitely.
The unrest began on July 18 when protesters set fire to the country's state broadcaster. The demonstrations erupted over the reservation of 30 percent of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the independence movement.
The protests, the largest since Hasina's re-election this year, challenge the job reservation system for relatives of war heroes from the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan. Despite defending the quota system, Prime Minister Hasina emphasized that military veterans deserve the highest respect for their contributions, regardless of political affiliation.
Protesters argue that the current system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Hasina's Awami League party. They demand that the government replace the reservation system with a merit-based one.
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