Curfew declared in Bangladesh amid growing civil unrest

Bangladesh is burning as the government now announced a curfew and deployed military forces on Friday to quell ongoing deadly unrest across the country. This protest have now turned deadly and spread across the country as at least 105 people have died in clashes this week between student demonstrators and police, presenting a significant challenge to the government.

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Earlier attempts by police in Dhaka to ban all public gatherings for the day failed to prevent further violence. Despite an internet shutdown aimed at hindering rally organization, confrontations persisted between protesters and law enforcement in the city of 20 million. In a dramatic escalation, student protesters stormed a jail in Narsingdi district, freeing inmates before setting the facility ablaze.

According to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s list, at least 52 people were killed in the capital. Hospital staff reported that more than half of this week’s deaths resulted from police firing.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the attacks on student protesters as shocking and unacceptable, calling for impartial investigations and accountability for those responsible.

Police in Dhaka reported extensive damage to police and government offices on Thursday, including the torching of Bangladesh Television’s headquarters by enraged students, leaving it offline.

In response to the unrest, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Faruk Hossain confirmed the arrest of Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, a senior leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The protests, which have been occurring almost daily this month, are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves over half of civil service positions for specific groups, including children of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war.

Critics argue that the system benefits pro-government factions supporting Hasina, 76, who has been in power since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January amid allegations of stifling genuine opposition.

Rights groups accuse Hasina’s administration of using state institutions to consolidate power and suppress dissent, including through extrajudicial killings of opposition activists. As the situation deteriorates, the government has ordered schools and universities to shut indefinitely.

Despite Hasina’s national address earlier this week urging calm, students remain determined to continue protests. Nearly half of Bangladesh’s 64 districts reported clashes on Thursday, according to Independent Television. Internet is shutdown due to the protest since Thursday. It has severely restricted connectivity across the country, raising concerns about public safety and access to right information.