Nationwide Curfew in Bangladesh as 105 Killed in Deadly Unrest

A nationwide curfew has been imposed in Bangladesh as the nation simmers in the deadly unrest spread across the country over reservation in government jobs.

According to reports, the clashes between student protestors and police have led to the deaths of at least 105 people. Around 245 Indian citizens returned home from Bangladesh crossing through border points in the northeast on Friday.

In an address to the nation on TV, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited the students for talks to find a solution to the issue peacefully.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 15,000 Indians, including 8,500 students, currently residing in Bangladesh are safe. The government has facilitated the return of 245 Indians, including 125 students.

The student protestors broke into a jail in the Bangladeshi district of Narsingdi and released hundreds of inmates. Then they set it on fire.

The student protestors are demanding the Bangladesh government scrap the 30% reservation of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

On Friday, the protestors set the country’s state broadcasting facility on fire because of which the state broadcaster BTV abruptly went off the air.