Bangladesh in Chaos: Government Jobs Spark Deadly Protests
The Government of Bangladesh has imposed a curfew throughout the country. This means people are to remain indoors. The Army has been called in to keep things under control. This happened after days of fighting between protesters and police.
Why Are People Protesting?
People in general, students, have become incensed at the way government jobs are allotted. They believe the system is unfair. The system reserves a portion of the jobs for families of the people who participated in Bangladesh’s war for independence back in 1971.
Violence Escalates
The protests have become very violent. Many people have died. Reports indicate that 17-30 people were killed on Friday alone. The police and security forces shot at protesters, while protesters burnt buildings and fought the police.
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Internet Shutdown
Government officials have cut off Internet access across swaths of this country, making it hard to communicate with each other or find out what is happening. Some think this was done by the government to prevent protesters from organizing.
Primer Minister Response
Primer Minister Sheikh Hasina asked protesters to be patient. She urged them to wait for the court verdict related to the job system. However, the majority of the protesters are not ready to wait and continue the protest.
Bigger Problems
These protests reflect some serious problems in Bangladesh such as lack of good employment for youth, dissatisfaction of people against the ruling government, and high prices of goods making life difficult for most of the people.
What’s Next?
It is not clear what may happen next. The government tries to suppress the protests. A lot of people have become very angry. The situation in Bangladesh remains tense and dangerous.
