Bangladesh quota system: PM imposes nationwide curfew, deploys military forces
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared a nationwide curfew in response to deadly clashes over government job allocations.
Large numbers of troops have been deployed to restore law and order throughout the country. Police and security officials used live ammunition and tear gas on protesters in Dhaka on Friday, while also imposing a ban on all gatherings in the capital.
As per reports, at least 105 people have been killed so far and over 1,500 have been injured in the protests that took a bloody turn this week. By 8 p.m. on Friday, a total of 245 Indians, among them 125 students, had returned to India.
Protesters are calling for the abolition of a quota system that allocates up to 30% of government jobs to relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. The demonstrators believe the system is unfair and mostly helps supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, which led the independence movement. They want it changed to a system based on merit.
A senior official from the home department reported that 363 individuals entered Meghalaya via the Dawki Integrated Check Post, including 204 Indians, 158 Nepalese, and one person from Bhutan. The total number of people taking refuge in the state increased to over 670.
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