The Bangladesh government has decided to impose a curfew across the country and deploy the army, BBC Bangla reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary, amid widening student-led protests against government job quotas.
The total number of those dead from the protests reached 105 on Friday night, AFP separately reported, citing hospitals. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and police have not issued a casualty toll.
The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka said that reports indicated more than 40 deaths and “hundreds to possibly thousands” injured across Bangladesh.
The protests initially broke out over student anger against quotas that set aside 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.
The nationwide unrest – the biggest since Hasina was re-elected this year – has also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of a population of 170 million. (Reuters)