DHAKA: Bangladesh announced a curfew and the deployment of military forces on Friday after police failed to contain days of deadly unrest that has spread across the country. The clashes between student demonstrators and police have resulted in at least 105 deaths, according to hospital reports compiled by AFP, posing a significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year autocratic rule.
“The government has decided to impose a curfew and deploy the military in aid of civilian authorities,” stated Hasina’s press secretary, Nayeemul Islam Khan, adding that the curfew would take immediate effect.
In an unprecedented move, police in the capital Dhaka banned all public gatherings to prevent further violence. “We’ve banned all rallies, processions, and public gatherings in Dhaka today,” said police chief Habibur Rahman, emphasizing the necessity for public safety. Despite these measures and an internet shutdown, confrontations continued in the city of 20 million.
“Our protest will continue,” said Sarwar Tushar, a marcher in Dhaka who sustained minor injuries. “We want the immediate resignation of Sheikh Hasina. The government is responsible for the killings.”
In the central district of Narsingdi, student protesters stormed a jail, freed inmates, and set the facility on fire, according to a police officer who requested anonymity.
‘Shocking and Unacceptable’
Dhaka Medical College Hospital reported at least 52 fatalities on Friday, with police fire being the leading cause of deaths this week. UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the attacks on students, calling for impartial investigations and accountability.
Protesters also targeted police and government offices, including the state broadcaster Bangladesh Television, which remains offline after being stormed by students.
Police spokesman Faruk Hossain confirmed the arrest of Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, a senior leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
‘Symbol of a Rigged System’
The protests, driven by opposition to a civil service quota system, reflect broader discontent with Hasina’s regime. Critics argue the quotas benefit pro-government groups and disadvantage the youth, who see the system as rigged against them.
Ali Riaz, a politics professor at Illinois State University, described the unrest as the eruption of long-standing youth discontent. “The job quotas became the symbol of a system which is rigged and stacked against them by the regime,” he said.
Despite a nationwide internet shutdown, students remain determined to continue their protests. Nearly half of Bangladesh’s 64 districts reported clashes on Thursday, according to Independent Television. London-based watchdog NetBlocks confirmed a “nation-scale” internet shutdown, raising concerns over public safety with limited news flowing in or out of the country.
