Students are also demanding the release of detained protest leaders, the lifting of the curfew, and the reopening of universities that have been closed since the previous week.
Digital Desk: Bangladesh continued to be under curfew on Monday, with extensive telecom outages persisting a day after the Supreme Court reduced contentious job quotas. Student demonstrators, who had clashed with security forces in recent weeks, set a 48-hour ultimatum for the government to address their new demands.
The unrest erupted following the High Court's decision in June to reinstate job quotas, overturning a 2018 move by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration to eliminate them. These quotas allocated 56 percent of government positions to categories such as families of freedom fighters, women, and individuals from underdeveloped regions.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court proposed a compromise, slashing the reserved quota to just 7 percent. However, the student protesters remained dissatisfied.
"We will continue our protests until the government publishes the verdict in the official gazette," a student from Dhaka University informed Reuters.
Students are also demanding the release of detained protest leaders, the lifting of the curfew, and the reopening of universities that have been closed since the previous week.
The violence has resulted in a heavy toll, with at least 163 fatalities reported by AFP. Police have detained more than 500 individuals, including opposition leaders in Dhaka.
"At least 532 people have been arrested in connection with the violence," stated Faruk Hossain, spokesperson for Dhaka Metropolitan Police, to AFP. He also confirmed the deaths of at least three policemen and injuries to over 1,000, including 60 critically wounded.
Despite a semblance of calm returning to the city due to the curfew, authorities briefly relaxed restrictions for three hours on Monday to enable residents to purchase essentials. However, military tanks remained stationed in Dhaka, and armed patrols monitored the rare motorists on the streets.
The shutdown of internet services and disruptions to supply chains compounded residents' difficulties. Department stores reported dwindling stocks due to supply chain disruptions, while travel plans and essential services were severely affected by the lack of internet access.
The next 48 hours are crucial as students await the government's response to their demands. The course of action they may pursue if their demands are not met remains uncertain.
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