Bangladesh Imposes Curfew with ‘Shoot-on-Sight’ Order As Anti-Quota Protests Escalate

Dhaka: Bangladesh is on edge as authorities grapple with widespread protests and violence erupting over a government quota system for civil service jobs. The unrest has led to a nationwide curfew with “shoot-on-sight” orders, with reports indicating hundreds killed and thousands injured.

The curfew, implemented Friday night, allows a brief window from noon to 2 pm for essential errands before resuming until Sunday morning. This drastic measure follows days of clashes between student-led demonstrators and security forces.

The demonstrations centre around a quota reserving 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence. Student groups argue the system stifles meritocratic hiring, while the government defends it as honouring national heroes’ families.

Violence escalated significantly on Tuesday, with reports suggesting over 100 fatalities. Numbers remain unclear due to the volatile situation, but media outlets like Somoy TV and Daily Prothom Alo have documented dozens of deaths across the country.

The US Embassy in Dhaka issued a warning highlighting the “extremely volatile” situation and widespread injuries.