Bangladeshi authorities have imposed a nationwide curfew and issued police “shoot-on-sight” orders as the country’s top court prepares to rule on the contentious job quotas that have prompted a nationwide uproar among university students.
A strict curfew has been enforced throughout Bangladesh, with military patrolling cities to calm rising discontent. The ban was temporarily lifted on Saturday afternoon to allow residents to do necessary errands.
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, told AFP that police personnel have been given the authority to open fire on people who violate the curfew.
The protests began on university campuses and have expanded throughout the country, with at least 133 people killed, including numerous police officers.
Supreme Court to pronounce verdict today
The Supreme Court will rule on whether to abolish quotas on Sunday, after rallies against them sparked violence and confrontations that killed at least 133 people.
The High Court reinstated the quotas last month following petitions from relatives of 1971 Liberation War veterans, sparking the latest round of demonstrations.
Also read: Nationwide curfew imposed in Bangladesh as violent protests claim 105 lives
US warns Americans not to travel to Bangladesh
Due to the ongoing violence, the US State Department has advised Americans not to travel to Bangladesh and has evacuated several ambassadors and their families.
What led to the protests?
The protests were sparked by a system that reserves more than half of civil service positions for specified groups, notably children of veterans from the country’s 1971 war for independence from Pakistan.
The violence have compelled Sheikh Hasina’s government to close all public and private educational institutions indefinitely, upsetting the lives of many students, including those from India. Approximately 1,000 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh.
Also read: India issues advisory to its citizens in Bangladesh amid ongoing quota-related protests
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fueled tensions by equating the demonstrators to people who sided with Pakistan during the 1971 independence struggle. Her administration has also imposed a communications blackout, preventing all internet and social media access since Thursday night.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has defended the quota system, claiming that veterans deserve the utmost honor for their sacrifices to the war, regardless of political membership.
