Bangladesh shuts offices, imposes curfew to curb deadly job quota protests

DHAKA - Soldiers patrolled the deserted streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Saturday (July 20) and the government ordered all offices and institutions to stay closed for two days after at least 114 people were killed this week during student-led protests against government job quotas.

At least four people died, according to hospital data, during sporadic clashes on Saturday in some areas of Dhaka, which has been the centre of the protests, and where security forces set up road blocks to enforce a curfew.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government declared Sunday and Monday as "public holidays" due to the situation in the country, with only emergency services allowed to operate.

Authorities had earlier closed universities and colleges from Wednesday.

Nationwide unrest broke out following student anger against the quotas for government jobs, which included 30 per cent reserved for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

Hasina's government had scrapped the quota system in 2018, but a court reinstated it last month. The Supreme Court suspended the decision after a government appeal and will hear the case on Sunday after agreeing to bring forward a hearing scheduled for Aug 7.

The demonstrations - the biggest since Hasina was re-elected for a fourth successive term this year - have also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the population.

Internet and text message services in Bangladesh have been suspended since Thursday, cutting the nation off as police cracked down on protesters who defied a ban on public gatherings.

Overseas telephone calls mostly failed to connect while websites of Bangladesh-based media organisations did not update and their