Written by Muhammad Bonir Hussein and Sam Jahan
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh extended a curfew on Sunday to control violent student-led protests that have killed at least 114 people as authorities prepared for a Supreme Court hearing later in the day on government job quotas that have sparked anger.
Military patrols were deployed in the streets of the capital, Dhaka, the center of the demonstrations that turned into clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Internet and SMS services have been suspended in Bangladesh since Thursday, cutting off the country as police crack down on protesters who defied a ban on public gatherings.
The curfew imposed late on Friday was extended to 3 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Sunday, even after the Supreme Court hearing, and will continue for an “indefinite” period after a two-hour break to allow people to gather supplies, local media reported.
Universities and colleges have also been closed since Wednesday.
Nationwide unrest erupted after students became angry over government job quotas that included a 30% allocation to families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government had scrapped the quota system in 2018, but the court reinstated it last month.
The Supreme Court stayed the decision after the government appealed, and the case will be heard on Sunday after agreeing to bring forward the hearing scheduled for August 7.
The demonstrations – the largest since Hasina was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term this year – were fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the population.
The US State Department on Saturday raised its travel warning for Bangladesh to Level 4, urging American citizens not to travel to the South Asian country.
