Government imposes curfew as protests continue

Bangladesh authorities have imposed a nationwide curfew after fresh riots in the capital Dhaka left 35 more people dead.

Days of violence were sparked by calls by students for the government to scrap a rule reserving dozens of public sector jobs for the families of veterans of the country’s 1971 independence war.

The prime minister’s office announced the curfew after an attack on Narsingdi prison on Friday led to the release of hundreds of inmates.

Government press secretary Naeemul Islam Khan said the army would be deployed on the streets to try to restore order.

“The government has decided to impose a curfew and deploy the army to assist the civil authorities,” he said in a statement.

Some 67 people have died since the violence began, although the exact toll is difficult to assess due in part to an almost total communications blackout, with mobile internet and telephone lines apparently out of service.

Bus and train services have also been disrupted, according to reports, while photos from Dhaka show large numbers of police in riot gear on the streets.

Schools and universities in Bangladesh have also been closed until further notice.

But that was not enough to stop the protesters, who vowed to continue their own “complete shutdown”, which saw them block roads across the city.

On Friday, students chanting “merit, merit” and “we will not let the blood shed by our brothers be in vain” were joined by a number of parents outside Dhaka University.

Students say the quota system is discriminatory and are demanding merit-based recruitment. Critics say the system unfairly benefits families from pro-government groups that support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who won her fourth consecutive election in January.

A march organised by Islamist parties was met with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades.

On Friday, protesters also stormed the Narsingdi district jail, where several hundred inmates reportedly escaped into the streets. Several witnesses confirmed the incident to BBC Bangla.

The main opposition Bangladesh National Party also called for protests, with its exiled interim president Tarique Rahman asking citizens to support “these tender-hearted students” in a message posted on Twitter.

The party said one of its top leaders, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, had been taken into custody. Police did not give reasons for Mr Rizvi’s arrest.

Attempts to end the protests through negotiations have so far failed.

Law Minister Anisul Haque told BBC Bangla that the government was open to discussing the issues: “I am sure they are also discussing whether they will participate in the negotiations or not.”

But student Nahid Iqbal told the BBC on Thursday that she had no plans to take part in the negotiations at this time.

“The government has killed so many people in one day that we cannot participate in any discussions under the current circumstances.”

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told the BBC that authorities had decided to ban gatherings in the city to protect lives and property after Thursday’s violence.

Meanwhile, police confirmed to BBC Bangla that two people died on Friday.

Police said 100 officers were injured on Thursday, while a government minister said several vehicles parked outside government buildings were set on fire.

The clashes are not limited to Dhaka, with 26 districts reporting incidents.

The protesters who occupied and set fire to the public broadcaster BTV had left by Friday morning, although the station had not resumed broadcasting.

A senior journalist told BBC Bangla that the newsroom, studio and canteen were all damaged in Thursday’s fire.

Additional reporting by BBC Bangla