Bangladesh inched towards normalcy on Wednesday following five days of violent nationwide student protests over government job quotas. The capital city, Dhaka, saw rush hour traffic reappear, while banks, garment factories, and some internet services began limited operations.
The nation faced an internet blackout starting last Thursday, severely restricting the flow of information. Connectivity was partially restored on Tuesday night, prioritising banks, technology firms, and media outlets.
Mobile phone services resumed, though users reported slow internet speeds, and mobile internet along with social media sites like Facebook remained suspended.
Authorities relaxed the curfew for seven hours in Dhaka and other districts but maintained a strong presence of army troops, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), riot police, and the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
City and inter-district bus and ferry services resumed operation during the relaxed curfew hours, while schools and other educational institutions stayed closed.
The violent unrest resulted in numerous fatalities, including students. Media reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 184.
The government responded by establishing a judicial investigation into the violence, led by a High Court judge.
Blame for the unrest has been directed towards the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, allegedly supported by former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The government accuses these groups of exploiting the student movement. The BNP has denied these allegations, instead placing blame on the government.
A manhunt is underway for those responsible for damaging government properties, including the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV).
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, at a press briefing, condemned the violence: “The anti-liberation Jamaat-BNP and militants carried out unprecedented mayhem. Attacks on police stations and jails are new to us.”
Kamal assured the public of the government’s commitment to justice: “We will mobilise all our strength to track down every one of them and expose them to justice. We will not deviate even an inch from this mission.”
Reports indicate that over 2,500 suspected anarchists have been arrested so far.
The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division ordered a significant quota reform on Sunday, reducing reserved posts from 56% to 7%.
The revised quotas allocate 5% for 1971 war veterans and 2% for ethnic minorities, transgender, and disabled individuals, leaving 93% of government jobs to be merit-based. The government has issued a Gazette notification in accordance with this order.
Student leaders suspended the protests, expressing regret over the violence. “We did not want the reform at the expense of so much blood,” one leader stated.
Meanwhile, Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, in a briefing for foreign media, lamented the casualties: “We never wanted the casualties; it was very, very unfortunate and unwanted. Every incident and casualty will be independently investigated.”
The student movement emerged out of frustration with the quotas, which left fewer than half of government jobs open on merit, exacerbating the unemployment crisis, particularly in the private sector. Government jobs, with their regular wage hikes and perks, are highly sought after.
Bangladesh’s crucial garment and textiles industry, which supplies major Western brands, reopened after being shuttered during the unrest and curfew.
SM Mannan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, confirmed: “All our factories are open today. Everything is going smoothly.”
The southeastern Chattagram port also resumed operations after halting cargo handling due to the unrest, as highways reopened for container transport.
Follow us
