DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Police Bangladesh Troops patrolled parts of the capital on Saturday in an effort to quell days of violence. Conflict over government job quotas Several people were killed and hundreds were injured.
of The curfew comes following perhaps the deadliest day so far. Weeks of protests have continued despite a ban on public gatherings. Reports varied on Friday’s death toll, but Somoi TV put it at 43. An Associated Press reporter saw 23 bodies at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but it was not immediately clear whether all of them died on Friday.
A further 22 people were killed on Thursday as protesting students tried to force a “total national shutdown”. Several more deaths occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday..
The protests began a few weeks ago Violence erupted on TuesdayFor Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Won four consecutive terms He took power after January elections boycotted by major opposition groups.
Police and protesters clashed on the streets and on university campuses in Dhaka and cities across South Asia. Authorities banned mobile phone and internet services and took other measures to block online communications. Some television news channels went off air, and the websites of most Bangladeshi newspapers were not loading or were being updated.
Officials could not immediately confirm the death toll, but the daily Prothom Alo reported that 103 people had been killed since Tuesday.
The US Embassy in Dhaka said on Friday there were reports of “hundreds and possibly thousands” of injuries across Bangladesh and described the situation as “highly volatile.”
Local media also reported that about 800 inmates escaped from a prison in Narsingdi district north of the capital, Dhaka, after protesters stormed the prison and set it on fire on Friday. Meanwhile, some key government websites, including those of the Bangladesh Central Bank and the prime minister’s office, appeared to be defaced by hackers.
The curfew will begin at midnight, be relaxed from noon to 2 pm to allow people to buy essentials, then be reinstated until 10 am on Sunday. Obaidul Quader, secretary general of the ruling Awami League, said a “shoot on sight” order had also been issued giving security forces powers to open fire on rioters in extreme cases.
Highlights of the confusion Bangladesh’s governance and economic rifts And the frustration of young people who can’t get good jobs after graduating.
Protesters are demanding the abolition of the quota system that allocates up to 30 percent of government jobs to relatives of war veterans. Bangladesh War of Independence, 1971 They argue the system is discriminatory and favours supporters of Hasina from the Awami League, which led the independence movement, and want it replaced with a meritocratic system.
Prime Minister Hasina defended the quota system, saying veterans should be given the utmost respect for their war service contributions, regardless of their political affiliation.
Representatives from both sides met late Friday to try to find a solution. The meeting, attended by at least three student leaders, called for reform of the quota system, the opening of student dormitories across the country and the resignation of university officials who have failed to prevent violence on campuses.
Law Minister Anisul Haq said the government was ready to discuss the demands of the student leaders.
The protests have also received support from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which has vowed to organise its own demonstrations and many of its supporters have joined the student protests.
In a statement on Friday, the BNP said its supporters were not responsible for the violence and that the party did not support any politically motivated acts of sabotage.
The Awami League and the BNP have often accused each other of stoking political unrest and violence. Crackdown on several opposition leaders Meanwhile, Hasina’s government has accused the party of trying to disrupt the vote.
Hasina’s government had previously suspended quotas following massive student protests in 2018. But in June, Bangladesh’s High Court quashed that decision and reinstated the quotas after a petition was filed by families of 1971 army veterans. The Supreme Court reserved its decision pending an appeal and said in a statement it would consider the matter on Sunday.
Prime Minister Hasina called on protesters to await the court’s verdict.
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Saariq reported from New Delhi, India.
