Bangladesh on Friday imposed a nationwide curfew after anti-reservation protests in the capital Dhaka grew violent leaving at least 105 persons dead, reported AFP. The toll is hard to assess because of a communications blackout in the country.
On Saturday, the police also imposed a “shoot-on-sight” order across the country, reported the Associated Press.
The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the announcement on the curfew on Friday after an attack on the Narsingdi prison in central Bangladesh that led to the release of several inmates, reported the BBC.
The army would be deployed to the streets to restore order, government Press Secretary Naeemul Islam Khan said.
Internet services and mobile data continued to be down on Friday in Dhaka.
The protests are in response to a High Court ruling in June that reinstated the 30% quota in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters of the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War.
The reservation system, which was abolished in 2018 following widespread protests, has rekindled anger among young job seekers and students who fear that they would be deprived of opportunities because of the quota.
In recent days, thousands of anti-quota protestors have been clashing with the police and members of the ruling Awami League party’s student wing.
The country’s law minister Anisul Haque told the BBC that the government was open to discussing the protestors’ concerns. “I'm sure they are also discussing whether they will come to the talks or not,” he said.
Nearly 1,000 Indian students return from Bangladesh
Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned to India from Bangladesh amid the violence, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday.
Of these, 778 students returned to the country through various land ports. “In addition, around 200 students have returned home by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that it was in regular contact with the more than 4,000 Indian students still remaining in various universities in Bangladesh.
“Students from Nepal and Bhutan have also been assisted with their crossing into India on request,” the statement said.
Many of the students who returned were studying undergraduate medical courses, NDTV reported. Most were from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.
The ministry said that it was also coordinating with the civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh and with commercial airlines to ensure uninterrupted flight services to India from Dhaka and Chittagong that can be used by Indian nationals to return to the country.
India committed to assisting all citizens: MEA
India is committed to providing all possible assistance to its citizens amid the unrest in Bangladesh, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.
Jaiswal said that there are about 8,500 Indian students in Bangladesh, most of whom are pursuing medical education. The students are safe and are in touch with Indian authorities, the spokesperson added.
The foreign ministry also told reporters that it sees the protests as Bangladesh’s internal matter.
Also read:
High unemployment, especially for graduates: What’s driving protests against quota in Bangladesh
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