Bangladesh on Edge: Police Issue Shoot-on-Sight Curfew After Deadly Job Quota Clashes
Bangladesh erupted into chaos as police enforced a brutal “shoot-on-sight” curfew across the country, while military troops roamed Dhaka’s streets following deadly clashes over government job quotas. The tense lockdown started at midnight and will run until 10 a.m. Sunday, with a brief midday window for essential errands.
Protests Over Controversial Job Quotas Turn Deadly
Student-led protests exploded over a quota system that reserves up to 30% of civil service jobs for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence. Violence spiraled out of control on Tuesday, with reports of at least 103 deaths, including 43 in a single deadly Friday alone as students tried to shut down the country.
The U.S. Embassy described the unrest as “extremely volatile,” with hundreds—possibly thousands—injured nationwide. Hospitals in Dhaka are overwhelmed as bodies pile up. Student protests, which started weeks ago, have become the biggest threat to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
Government Cracks Down: Curfew, Communications Blackout, and Prison Riots
Officials imposed the harsh curfew with lethal force authorization. Police and military moved swiftly to crush the unrest. Authorities cut internet and mobile services, silencing many news outlets and local websites. Key government portals, including Bangladesh’s central bank and the Prime Minister’s office, were hacked and defaced during the turmoil.
In a shocking turn, protesters stormed a prison in the Narsingdi district north of Dhaka, setting it on fire and freeing around 800 inmates. The government remains tight-lipped on official casualty figures amid the chaos.
Quotas Spark Fury Amid Economic Woes and Political Turmoil
The protests expose growing dissatisfaction among Bangladesh’s youth, who face bleak job prospects. Critics say the quota system unfairly benefits Prime Minister Hasina’s backers. Hasina defends the policy as a tribute to war veterans’ sacrifices, but students demand a merit-based approach.
On Friday, talks between student leaders and government reps began, with calls for quota reforms, reopening of student dorms closed due to violence, and resignations of university officials blamed for campus bloodshed. The government says it’s open to discussions.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party backs the protests and plans its own rallies, denying allegations that it’s stoking violence for political gain.
High Court Suspends Controversial Quotas Amid Rising Tensions
Earlier this year, mass protests forced the government to halt job quotas. But in June, the High Court reinstated them after veteran families filed petitions. The Supreme Court has now suspended this ruling, with a critical appeal hearing set for Sunday.
Bangladesh teeters on the brink as the government and opposition prepare for what could be further flare-ups in a nation struggling with deep social and political fissures.
