Curfew and use of force to control deadly protests

Amid violent student protests once morest public employment quotas, which have already caused more than a hundred deaths in five days, a strict curfew with shoot-at-all orders and a general communications and media blackout have been imposed in Bangladesh.

Since the protests began on Monday, at least 109 people have died and hundreds have been injured in clashes between protesters and security forces. Two more people died today, according to a report by the EFE agency.

There is a curfew in Bangladesh

The protests, led mostly by students, are demanding changes to a quota system that allocates regarding a third of government jobs to relatives of veterans of Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence, a group perceived as sympathetic to the government.

Protesters say the quota system is unfair and favours supporters of the ruling Awami League party, while the government justifies the system as a way to recognise the sacrifice of war veterans.

The government has imposed a curfew that will be in effect until tomorrow, with instructions to “shoot on sight” at crowds, and has restricted mobile communications and the Internet, leaving the Asian nation virtually isolated from the rest of the world and hampering the work of independent media.

Educational institutions such as universities and schools have also been closed, and public gatherings have been banned.

Last Friday was the most violent day of protests in the Bangladeshi capital, with a total of 59 people killed, including several students, according to data from major hospitals.

So far, authorities have not provided an account of the number of victims.

“The mounting death toll is shocking evidence of the utter intolerance shown by the Bangladeshi authorities towards protests and dissent,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Despite the implementation of a strict curfew, demonstrations and riots have occurred in various areas of the country, leading to the intervention of security forces.

In order to calm the situation, a general holiday has been declared on Sunday and Monday. In addition, for security reasons to protect workers, textile factories will remain closed on Sunday.

(With information from EFE)

Protests in Bangladesh.

Curfew in Bangladesh.

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