Nasir Waqar
Bangladesh has announced a nationwide curfew, set to come into effect at the beginning of Saturday, amid a telecommunications blackout that has isolated the country’s 170 million people from the rest of the world. This blackout not only hinders the public’s access to information and communication but also affects the international community’s ability to monitor and respond to the situation. The clashes between students and security forces have intensified, prompting the deployment of the army on the streets of Dhaka, as reported by Faisal Mahmud for Al Jazeera.
The government has imposed a ban on public rallies in Dhaka and buildings were torched during clashes, leading to a substantial death toll. The protests, initially sparked by demands to end job quotas, have resulted in violent confrontations, with at least 19 fatalities reported before the announcement of the curfew. The government’s actions, including the shutdown of phone and internet connectivity, have failed to quell the unrest, with protesters resorting to alternative forms of demonstration, such as apparent hacking attacks on government websites.
The protests, centered around demands to abolish job quotas for government positions, have been marred by escalating violence. The government’s response, including the closure of all universities and deadly clashes with armed police, has further inflamed the situation. The severity of the unrest is underscored by the reported death toll, with conflicting figures adding to the uncertainty surrounding the extent of the violence.
The crisis has cast a wide net, with the authorities resorting to a complete internet blackout and releasing a statement accusing protesters of burning and vandalizing buildings. Major news organizations’ websites remained offline, and several official government websites were apparently hacked by a group identifying as ‘THE R3SISTANC3’. The situation indicates a multifaceted crisis with implications for both public order and cybersecurity, underscoring the widespread impact of the unrest.
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The root cause of the protests lies in the deeply entrenched job quota system, particularly pertaining to government employment. This system, which was initially introduced to provide opportunities for underprivileged sections of society, has been a subject of debate due to its potential for misuse and its impact on employment opportunities for the general population. The reinstatement of a 30 percent quota for descendants of veterans of the 1971 war of independence sparked the initial wave of demonstrations. Students have vocally opposed this system, citing concerns about its fairness and implications for wider social and economic issues such as rampant unemployment.
Looking ahead, the situation remains tense as the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the reinstated quotas has offered a temporary reprieve. However, the government’s agreement to abolish the quota, without a commitment to a legal amendment, has failed to assuage the protesters’ apprehensions. The prospects of a lasting resolution remain uncertain, with the government’s response and the students’ demands pointing to a potential stalemate, underscoring the tension and unpredictability of the situation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of the crisis, including allegations of excessive use of force and inflammatory rhetoric. The international community has also weighed in, highlighting concerns about the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters and calling for restraint from all sides.
As the situation in Bangladesh continues to unfold, the ramifications of the ongoing crisis are not only domestic but also have reverberations in international discourse, with stakeholders expressing solidarity and issuing statements of concern.
