Dhaka, Bangladesh – Police imposed a strict curfew with a “shoot-on-sight” order across Bangladesh as military forces patrolled parts of the capital on Saturday following deadly clashes over the allocation of civil service jobs. The violence has resulted in scores of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The curfew, which began at midnight, was relaxed from noon to 2 p.m. to allow people to run essential errands. It is expected to last until 10 a.m. Sunday. Lawmaker Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, stated that officers have been authorized to fire on mobs in extreme cases.
The demonstrations, mainly organized by student groups, began several weeks ago to protest a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. Violence erupted Tuesday, with the Daily Prothom Alo newspaper reporting the death toll at least 103 people.
Friday marked the deadliest day so far; Somoy TV reported 43 killed, while an Associated Press reporter saw 23 bodies at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, although it was not immediately clear whether they all died on Friday. On Thursday, 22 others were reported dead as protesting students attempted to “completely shut down” the country.
The United States Embassy in Dhaka issued a statement on Friday indicating that reports suggested “hundreds to possibly thousands” were injured across Bangladesh. The embassy described the situation as “extremely volatile.”
Bangladeshi authorities have not shared any official numbers of those killed and injured.
The primary objective of the curfew was to quell further violence as police and protesters continued to clash at university campuses in Dhaka and other cities. The government has also temporarily shut down mobile internet services to disrupt the organization of protests and to prevent the spread of violence.
Lawmaker Obaidul Quader reiterated that the police would be firm in their response to any breach of the curfew, emphasizing that the government’s primary concern is to restore peace and order. “Our officers are equipped and prepared to handle any situation that threatens public safety,” he said in a statement.
As the situation continues to evolve, international observers and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the escalating violence and the government’s response. The international community is closely monitoring the events in Bangladesh, with calls for restraint and dialogue between the government and protest leaders.
