Bangladesh has enacted a nationwide curfew and granted police "shoot-on-sight" orders in response to escalating student-led protests that have resulted in over 100 deaths. The curfew, which began at midnight on Friday and is set to last until Sunday morning, aims to restore order as military personnel patrol the streets of the capital, Dhaka.
The curfew was briefly lifted on Saturday afternoon to allow essential errands, but people are otherwise restricted to their homes, and all gatherings have been banned. Additionally, a communications blackout has been enforced, cutting off internet and social media access since Thursday night.
Local media reports estimate that the death toll has reached 115, with thousands injured, though official figures have not been released. Police, under orders from Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, are authorized to use lethal force against those defying the curfew.
The protests, which began earlier this month on university campuses, initially focused on the reintroduction of civil service job quotas seen as discriminatory. However, the movement has expanded into broader opposition against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, accused of authoritarianism, police brutality, and corruption. Hasina's government, which has been in power since 2009, faced allegations of electoral fraud in the January election and has been criticized for mishandling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shafkat Mahmud, a 28-year-old student protester from Dhaka, described the unrest as "civil war," asserting that the initial student protest has transformed into a nationwide call for governmental change. Mahmud accused the government of escalating violence, including the use of live ammunition, and reported attacks by pro-government groups armed with machetes and guns.
The violence has led to significant destruction, including the burning of a state-run broadcaster and a prison break freeing hundreds of prisoners. On Friday, at least 40 people were reported killed in the deadliest day of the protests.
Negotiations between the government and student leaders are ongoing, with demands for a complete overhaul of the quota system and the reopening of universities. Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq has indicated the government’s willingness to discuss these demands.
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