Student Demonstrations Escalate as Bangladesh Imposes Military-Enforced Curfew

Dhaka, Bangladesh :The capital city of Dhaka fell silent on Saturday as soldiers patrolled empty streets, enforcing a curfew aimed at quelling deadly student-led protests. The unrest, sparked by government job quota policies, has claimed at least 105 lives this week.

Communication Blackout

• Internet and text messaging services suspended since Thursday
• International calls largely unsuccessful
• Local media websites and social media accounts inactive

Casualties and Injuries

• Death toll reaches 105
• Thousands injured across the country
• Dhaka Medical College Hospital received 27 bodies in just two hours on Friday evening

Escalating Violence

• Five days of clashes between protesters and security forces
• Police using tear gas and sound grenades
• Demonstrators throwing bricks and setting vehicles ablaze

Root Causes

• Protests initially focused on government job quotas
• Fueled by high youth unemployment
• Nearly one-fifth of Bangladesh's 170 million population is young

Government Response

• National curfew imposed
• Military deployed to assist police
• Curfew briefly lifted for two hours on Saturday for essential activities
• Situation to be reassessed on Sunday morning

Current State

• Army personnel conducting ID checks at various checkpoints
• Further actions dependent on Sunday's assessment

The protests mark the largest demonstrations since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's re-election to a fourth consecutive term earlier this year. As the situation develops, the government faces the challenge of addressing the underlying issues while restoring order to the capital and beyond.