Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, announced that the nationwide curfew imposed amidst deadly protests will be lifted once the security situation improves. The protests, initially sparked by the government’s job quota system favoring families of the 1971 war for independence veterans, have escalated following a violent response from police and paramilitary forces. The Supreme Court’s recent move to scrap most of these job quotas has not quelled the unrest, as students demand the implementation of this order and justice for the victims of the violence. Over the past week, more than 150 people have been killed, and over 500 have been arrested, including leaders from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Nationwide curfew in Bangladesh will be lifted when the security situation improves, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Protests began against the government job quotas for relatives of 1971 war veterans but escalated after a violent crackdown by police and paramilitary forces.
The Supreme Court scrapped most of the job quotas, but students continue to demand the government’s implementation of this order and justice for the violence victims.
More than 150 people have been killed, and over 500 arrested in a week of violence, including some leaders of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Victims’ families and protesters are calling for justice for those killed, including a 16-year-old boy who succumbed to gunshot injuries after being left on the streets by security forces.
One of the protest leaders reported being tortured by the police, highlighting allegations of severe human rights abuses during the crackdown.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to scrap most of the quotas, students have only suspended their protests, signaling ongoing dissatisfaction and calls for further action.
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current state with its current name on New Year’s Day 1927.
The BBC is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom and the world's oldest and largest broadcast news organization. Principally funded by a public television license fee, it operates under a Royal Charter that mandates editorial impartiality and independence from the UK government. BBC News provides comprehensive global news, current affairs, and factual programming across radio, television, and online platforms, maintaining a vast network of foreign correspondents to serve audiences worldwide.
