Bangladesh student protests: Spike in violence kills over 30 amid communication blackout

Bangladesh has been gripped by escalating violence, with over 30 people killed and over 2,500 injured as student protests demanding reforms in the government job quota system intensify.

The unrest reached a critical point on July 18 when demonstrators set fire to the state broadcaster's building, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's televised plea for calm.

Bangladesh is witnessing one of its most intense periods of civil unrest as student protests over government job quotas escalate, resulting in widespread violence and communication disruptions.

The protests began last month when the Bangladesh High Court reinstated a controversial quota system for government jobs.

This decision reversed a 2018 move by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to abolish the system, which allocated a significant portion of government jobs to specific groups, including the families of those who fought in the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan.

The government's appeal led to the Supreme Court suspending the High Court's order, setting a hearing date for August 7.

However, Hasina's refusal to meet the students' demands, citing ongoing court proceedings, further fueled the unrest.

The situation turned dire when clashes erupted between anti-quota demonstrators and members of the Awami League's student wing.

The police's use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and noise grenades failed to disperse the crowds, leading to even more violence.

Authorities have since shut down metro and railway services in Dhaka and ordered an indefinite closure of schools and universities.

"We consider this an internal matter of Bangladesh. All our Indian nationals there are safe. Our student community in Bangladesh, which consists of 8,500 students, many of whom are studying medicine, is also safe. They are in communication with both our High Commission and our Assistant High Commission. We are in regular contact with them to provide any necessary assistance," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a routine press briefing.

Jaiswal also mentioned that there are 8,500 Indian students and 15,000 Indian nationals living in Bangladesh, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar closely monitoring the situation. The high commission will continue to provide regular updates. Recently, Bangladesh police and security forces used bullets and tear gas on protesters and prohibited all gatherings in the capital on Friday due to violent demonstrations in several locations.

In an effort to quell the protests, the government also imposed a mobile internet blackout across several regions, leading to what Netblocks described as a "near-total internet shutdown."

The communication disruptions have been severe, with mobile services being cut on Thursday and spreading nationwide by Friday morning.

Telephone calls, especially those from overseas, were mostly not connecting, and internet-based calls were also affected.

Websites of several Bangladesh-based newspapers were not updating, and their social media handles were inactive.

Only a few voice calls were functional, with no mobile data or broadband available. Even SMS services were disrupted, leaving the nation in a state of near-complete communication blackout.

The students' primary demand is the abolition of the quota system, which they argue restricts the number of government jobs available to the general population based on merit.

Currently, over half of these jobs are reserved for specific groups, including children of war veterans, women, and individuals from underdeveloped districts.

The protesters fear that this system significantly reduces their chances of securing government employment, exacerbating the high youth unemployment rate in Bangladesh, where nearly 20% of the population is either jobless or out of education.

Despite the violence, the Bangladesh government has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue. Law Minister Anisul Huq said, "Whenever they agree, we will sit...it could be held this afternoon even...Government has agreed to hold talks with the quota reformists." Prime Minister Hasina has condemned the loss of lives and urged patience until the Supreme Court's verdict is delivered.

The current protests mark the most significant nationwide agitation since Prime Minister Hasina's re-election earlier this year.

They highlight the growing frustration among the youth over employment prospects and government policies.

The communication blackout and violent clashes underscore the challenges faced by the government in maintaining order and addressing the grievances of its young population.

As Bangladesh braces for the Supreme Court hearing on August 7, the resolution of this crisis remains uncertain.

The government's response in the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the unrest can be quelled and whether meaningful reforms can be implemented to address the students' demands.