Bangladesh blocks roads and internet, deploys army to curb protests

DHAKA - Bangladeshi soldiers patrolled Dhaka’s deserted streets on July 20 and set up roadblocks during a curfew meant to quell deadly student-led

protests against government job quotas

that have killed more than 110 people this week.

Internet and text message services have been suspended since July 18, cutting off Bangladesh from the world as police cracked down on

protests that have continued despite a ban on public gatherings

. Overseas telephone calls mostly failed to connect, while websites of Bangladesh-based media organisations were not updated and their social media handles remained inactive.

“To take a country of nearly 170 million people off the internet is a drastic step, one we haven’t seen the likes of since the Egyptian revolution of 2011,” said Dr John Heidemann, chief scientist of the networking and cyber-security division at the University of Southern California Viterbi’s Information Sciences Institute.

The violent clashes have killed at least 105 people and injured thousands this week, according to data from hospitals across Bangladesh. The Dhaka Medical College Hospital received 27 dead bodies on July 19 between 5pm and 7pm.

For five days, police have fired tear gas and hurled sound grenades to scatter protesters as demonstrators clashed with security personnel, throwing bricks and igniting vehicles.

The demonstrations – the biggest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected for a fourth successive term in 2024 – have also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the South Asian nation’s 170 million people.

With the death toll climbing and police unable to contain the protests, Ms Hasina’s government imposed the national curfew and deployed the military. The curfew was eased for two hours from noon on July 20 to allow people to shop for supplies and complete other chores, TV channels reported. The curfew will last until 10am on July 21, at which point the government will assess the situation and decide the next course of action, the reports added.

Those venturing out on the streets had their identification cards inspected by army personnel at checkpoints, TV footage showed. Troops set up roadblocks and bunkers using sandbags across strategic locations of Dhaka, the centre of the anti-quota protests.

The nationwide unrest broke out over student anger against the controversial quotas for government jobs, including 30 per cent for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

Ms Hasina’s government had scrapped the quota system in 2018, but a court reinstated it in June.

The state appealed against the reinstatement and the Supreme Court suspended it for a month, pending a hearing on Aug 7.

In the central Dhaka district of Narsingdi, protesters stormed a jail on July 19 and freed over 850 inmates before setting fire to the facility, TV channels reported, citing police. Scattered incidents of arson were also reported on July 20.

Ms Hasina dropped plans to leave on July 21 for visits to Spain and Brazil due to the protests, the office of Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said.

Many opposition party leaders, activists and student protesters have been arrested, said Mr Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Police arrested Nahid Islam, a leading coordinator of the students’ agitation, at 2am on July 20, the protesters said in a text message.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a travel advisory on July 20, calling for Singaporeans to defer non-essential travel to Bangladesh while the situation remains volatile.

MFA advised Singaporeans already in Bangladesh to remain vigilant, minimise travel out of their homes, monitor the local news closely, and heed instructions of the local authorities. Singaporeans are also strongly encouraged to e-register with the ministry at

eregister.mfa.gov.sg

Neighbouring India said nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned home through various land ports and flights since the violence began.

International rights groups have criticised the internet suspension and actions of security forces. The European Union said it is deeply concerned by the violence and loss of life. REUTERS