Dhaka, Bangladesh — The Bangladeshi government imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the military following days of deadly clashes over the reinstated quota system for government jobs. The violence has claimed 105 lives and left about 1,500 people injured, news agency AFP reported.
Student protests have taken the unrest to a head, with widespread disruption across the country. Overnight, the Sheikh Hasina-led government declared a curfew and called in the army to restore order.
“The situation is really grim and worrying in Bangladesh. Nearly 100 people have died, and whole shutdowns and curfews have been declared. Some buildings have been set on fire,” said Kamalika Sen Gupta of CNN News 18, Editor East. The protests were against the quota system that had caused wide-scale disruption.
Internet services have been cut off, with reports that students set fires in a number of jails and government buildings. The violence sent many foreign students fleeing the country.
The AFP reports that the violence has not only resulted in scores of casualties but has also caused huge infrastructure damage. There are hacking incidents on government websites, with unconfirmed reports of a jailbreak incident in which students stormed a jail and freed inmates.
The situation remains fluid with a heavy military presence and armored vehicles on patrol in the streets of Dhaka. The whole international community is watching while the Bangladesh government tries to regain control and address the protesting students’ demands.
