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HomeWorldBangladesh Imposes Curfew and Grants Police 'Shoot-on-Sight' Orders Amid Deadly Student Protests

Bangladesh Imposes Curfew and Grants Police ‘Shoot-on-Sight’ Orders Amid Deadly Student Protests

20 July: Police in Bangladesh have been given “shoot-on-sight” orders as a nationwide curfew is enforced to control student-led protests that have resulted in over 100 deaths. The curfew, which began at midnight on Friday, is expected to last until Sunday morning, with military personnel patrolling Dhaka’s streets. It was temporarily lifted on Saturday afternoon for essential errands, but otherwise, citizens are confined to their homes, and all gatherings are banned. A communications blackout has been in place since Thursday night, blocking internet and social media access.

Local media reports indicate thousands have been injured, with the death toll reaching 115, although the government has not released official figures. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, confirmed that police could open fire on curfew violators.

The protests, some of the worst in over a decade, began on university campuses against the reintroduction of civil service job quotas, perceived as discriminatory and beneficial to the Awami League. They have since grown into a broader movement against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, accused of authoritarianism, police brutality, and corruption. The economic downturn post-Covid has exacerbated public discontent.

Protester Shafkat Mahmud described the situation as akin to “civil war,” with police escalating from rubber bullets to live ammunition and pro-government supporters attacking demonstrators. Protesters have responded by invading state-run facilities, including setting the state broadcaster on fire and freeing prisoners from a central Bangladesh jail on Friday, which saw the highest number of casualties.

Despite attempts to resolve the conflict, with student leaders calling for a complete reform of the quota system and the reopening of universities, the violence continues. Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq stated that the government is open to discussing the protesters’ demands.

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