Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government late Friday declared a nationwide curfew throughout Bangladesh and called for military forces to be deployed to restore order following several days of violent clashes over government job allocations.
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, made the announcement after police and security forces had opened fire on protesters earlier Friday, subsequently banning all gatherings in the capital.
Media reports indicated that several people were killed.
The military was deployed to assist the civilian administration in maintaining order, according to Quader.
The demonstrations, which commenced weeks ago but surged dramatically this week, represent the most serious challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since her fourth consecutive term victory in January. Major opposition parties had boycotted those elections.
On Friday, reports on the number of fatalities differed: Independent Television reported 17 deaths, while Somoy TV cited 30.
At Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, an Associated Press reporter counted 23 bodies, although it was not clear if all had passed away on Friday.
Local media reported a death toll of 22 on Thursday, marking the deadliest day of demonstrations so far, as protesting students sought to enforce a “complete shutdown” of the country. Authorities were not immediately available to confirm the death figures.
The turmoil has exposed weaknesses in Bangladesh’s governance and economy, reflecting the frustration of young graduates struggling to find quality employment.
To control the situation, the government has deployed police and paramilitary forces across the capital to secure campuses and disperse protests.
On Wednesday, major universities suspended classes and shut down dormitories. As of Friday, police in Dhaka had imposed a ban on all gatherings and demonstrations in the city.
Border guard officials were seen by an Associated Press reporter opening fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the headquarters of state-run Bangladesh Television.
The building had been attacked and set on fire by demonstrators the day before.
The crowd was targeted with rifle fire and sound grenades from border guards, while police officers deployed tear gas and rubber bullets. The streets were strewn with spent bullets and marked by bloodstains.
Internet services and mobile data were widely interrupted in Dhaka on Thursday night and remained out of service on Friday.
Social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, were also inaccessible.
This came alongside a global internet outage that impacted flights, banks, media outlets, and businesses worldwide, with the disruptions in Bangladesh being notably more severe than in other regions.
The country’s Telecommunication Regulatory Commission issued a statement saying they were unable to maintain service after protesters attacked their data center on Thursday, setting fire to some equipment.