DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh was without internet for a fifth day and the government declared a public holiday Monday, as authorities maintained tight control despite an apparent calm following a court order that curtailed a controversial system of allocating government jobs that has sparked violence. protests.
The statement comes after a shoot-on-sight curfew was imposed days earlier and soldiers were seen patrolling the capital and other areas.
The South Asian country has been the scene of clashes between police and mainly student protesters demanding an end to a quota reserving 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Afghanistan. Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. THE violence According to at least four local newspapers, the hurricane has killed more than 100 people. Official figures on the deaths have not yet been released.
No immediate violence was reported Monday morning after the Supreme Court ordered the day before, Veterans’ quota will be reduced to 5%. Thus, 93% of public sector jobs will be based on merit while the remaining 2% will be reserved for members of ethnic minorities as well as transgender and disabled people.
On Sunday night, student protesters urged the government to restore internet services. Hasnat Abdullah, coordinator of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, told The Associated Press that they were withdrawing calls for a complete shutdown, which they had tried to impose last week.
“But we are issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to end the digital crackdown and restore internet connectivity,” he said, adding that security guards deployed at various universities should be withdrawn, student dormitories reopened and measures taken for students to return to their campuses safely. Abdullah also said they wanted the government to end the curfew and ensure that the country returns to normalcy within two days.
Students also demanded that some university officials resign after failing to protect campuses. Sarjis Alam, another coordinator of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, said they would continue their protests if all their demands were not met. “We cannot withdraw from our movement like cowards,” he added.
Nahid Islam, another key organizer of the student protests, told reporters that the internet shutdown had disrupted their ability to communicate and said authorities were trying to create divisions among the protesters. “I am mentally traumatized… our unity is being destroyed,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in the capital Dhaka on Sunday called the situation “extremely volatile” and “unpredictable,” adding that guns, tear gas and other weapons had been used near the embassy. It said the Bangladeshi military had been deployed and urged Americans to be vigilant, avoid large crowds and reconsider travel plans.
The protests are the most serious challenge facing the Bangladesh government since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power. won a fourth consecutive term In January, elections were boycotted by major opposition groups. Universities were closed, the internet was cut off and the government ordered citizens to stay at home.
Protesters argued that the quota system was discriminatory and benefited supporters of Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement, and wanted it replaced with a merit-based system. Hasina defended the quota system, saying veterans deserved the utmost respect, regardless of their political affiliation.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has backed the protests, vowing to hold its own demonstrations as many of its supporters have joined the student-led protests.
The Awami League and the BNP have often accused each other of fuelling political chaos and violence, most recently in the run-up to the country’s national elections, which were marred by a repression against several opposition figures.
