Bangladesh Government Imposes Nationwide Internet Ban and Curfew

Bangladesh Government Imposes Nationwide Internet Ban and Curfew

Emmitt Barry

Bangladesh has imposed an internet blackout and a nationwide curfew, allowing people out only between 3 pm and 5 pm for essential errands. This follows a Supreme Court ruling on a civil service hiring quota, which has sparked violent protests, resulting in over 100 deaths over the past few days.

Riots have spread throughout Bangladesh, with buildings torched and intense clashes between students, government supporters, and police escalating tragically with estimates of the death toll of at least 100 people. The tense and volatile situation has prompted government officials to impose martial law.

Amidst the unrest, protesters targeted transportation systems, prompting police to respond with rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.

Essential websites, including those of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Hasina and its central bank, were hacked.

As hashtags like #SaveBangladesh, #StudentsUnderAttack, and #StudentsInDanger trended globally, distressing images of injured students flooded social media, amplifying calls for justice and accountability against the violence.

In 2018, the government halted the quotas following mass student protests. However, in June, Bangladesh’s High Court reinstated them, sparking new protests. The Supreme Court, ruling on an appeal, ordered that the veterans’ quota be cut to 5%, with 93% of jobs allocated on merit and the remaining 2% reserved for ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

The protests pose the most serious challenge to Bangladesh’s government since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a fourth consecutive term in January’s elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition groups.