dpa
Dhaka
The government of Bangladesh has imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the military following clashes between demonstrators and police during student protests, the military announced on Saturday.
The army will be deployed in the capital Dhaka and other districts, announced Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
More than 100 people have died in the protests since violence broke out on Tuesday. At least 56 deaths were reported on Friday, according to BBC Bangla, citing the newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
News from these outlets and other local media was not accessible online on Saturday, after the government largely cut off internet, telephone and SMS connections. The casualty figures have not been officially confirmed.
The US embassy in Bangladesh spoke on Friday of “hundreds to possibly thousands injured.” In the capital Dhaka, all gatherings were banned on Friday until further notice, Prothom Alo reported, citing the police.
Nevertheless, some protests took place. The police used stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets. Protesters set vehicles, shops and offices on fire, according to a DPA reporter on-site.
At midnight on Friday, student representatives had reportedly met with government representatives. No information on the outcome was known, BBC Bangla reported.
On Saturday, military personnel were predominantly seen on the streets. The website of the Bangladeshi government appeared to be hacked. It read: “Stop Killing Students” and “It’s not a protest anymore, it’s a war now.” The demonstrations, which have been ongoing since early July, are directed against the possible reintroduction of an old quota system.
It stipulates that more than half of public sector jobs be reserved for certain groups - such as the descendants of soldiers who fought for the country’s independence in 1971, women and people from poor neighbourhoods. Thousands of young people are calling for a more merit-based system.
Unemployment is high in the country with more than 170 million inhabitants. On Thursday, the government signalled its willingness to reform the system and hold talks.
Observers say that the quota system favours supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League. The government, in turn, accuses a section of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of fuelling the violence during the protests.
