Bangladesh is currently facing a communications blackout as a deadly crackdown on student-led demonstrations against government job quotas continues. A nationwide curfew has been enforced, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. The government blames protesters for violence and damage to public property, while also accusing opposition parties of inciting unrest. The internet blackout remains in place, along with disruptions to text messages and overseas phone calls.
Soldiers have set up checkpoints throughout the capital, Dhaka, as the curfew aims to block the protests fueled by economic insecurity. Despite a brief easing of the curfew for supplies shopping, the situation remains tense, with reports of gunfire in the city. There is uncertainty around when the curfew will be lifted, but it is expected to last at least until early Sunday.
The protests initially began peacefully in response to a court decision reinstating a quota for government jobs. However, the situation escalated as economic troubles and high unemployment levels added to the grievances of the demonstrators. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is facing its biggest challenge since re-election earlier this year, with protesters demanding accountability before entering into talks.
Amid the crisis, India has facilitated the return of Indian nationals from Bangladesh, with ongoing consular assistance for Indian students in universities across the country. The crackdown on protesters and the arrest of opposition party leaders have heightened tensions in the nation. The Supreme Court has suspended the job quota reinstatement for a month, pending a hearing in August. The situation remains uncertain as the government contends with the aftermath of the ongoing crackdown on demonstrators.
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