Police and security officials in Bangladesh resorted to firing bullets and tear gas at protesters while banning all gatherings in the capital on Friday, following days of deadly clashes over the allocation of government jobs. This crackdown was accompanied by an internet and mobile services blackout, intensifying the unrest.

The protests, which began weeks ago, sharply escalated on Monday, marking the most significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since her fourth consecutive term victory in a January election that was boycotted by the main opposition parties. Local television channel Somoy TR reported that four more people died in the latest clashes. This follows the bloodiest day of demonstrations so far, with 22 people killed on Thursday according to local media, as protesting students attempted to enforce a “complete shutdown” across the country. Authorities could not be reached immediately to confirm these figures.

The turmoil has underscored deep-seated issues in Bangladesh’s governance and economy, particularly the frustration among young graduates facing a dearth of quality employment opportunities. An Associated Press reporter witnessed border guard officials opening fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the headquarters of state-run Bangladesh Television, which had been attacked and set ablaze by protesters the previous day.

Bangladeshi students set fire to the country's state broadcaster on July 18, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the network in an attempt to quell the escalating clashes that have resulted in at least 32 deaths. Smoke was seen rising from burning vehicles set ablaze by protesters near the Disaster Management Directorate office in Dhaka on July 18, 2024.

The border guards used rifles and sound grenades against the protesters, while police officers deployed tear gas and rubber bullets. Streets were strewn with bullets and marked with smears of blood. A news producer and reporter at Bangladesh Television, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, recounted how protesters breached the main gate and set fire to vehicles and the reception area. “I escaped by leaping over the wall but some of my colleagues got stuck inside. The attackers entered the building and set furniture on fire,” the producer told the Associated Press by phone.

Local media reported that at least 22 people were killed on Thursday, adding to six deaths earlier in the week. However, authorities could not be immediately reached to verify these death tolls. On Friday morning, internet services and mobile data appeared to be down in the capital, Dhaka, with social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp becoming inaccessible. The country’s Telecommunication Regulatory Commission stated they were unable to ensure service after their data center was attacked and equipment set on fire by demonstrators on Thursday. This information has not been independently verified by the Associated Press.

Student protesters announced their intention to continue the shutdown on Friday, urging mosques nationwide to hold funeral prayers for those who had died. The protesters are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. They argue the system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party, which led the independence movement, and advocate for a merit-based system instead.

Prime Minister Hasina has defended the quota system, asserting that veterans deserve the highest respect for their war contributions, irrespective of political affiliations. While Hasina is credited with bringing stable growth to Bangladesh, rising inflation, partly driven by global upheaval from the war in Ukraine, has spurred labor unrest and dissatisfaction with the government. Despite growth in private sector job opportunities, government jobs remain highly coveted due to their perceived stability and lucrative benefits. Each year, approximately 400,000 graduates compete for about 3,000 civil service positions.

“What is unfolding in Bangladesh is deeply unsettling for a generation that only asked for a fair opportunity in public service recruitment. That a peaceful protest against a state policy would slip into the peak of lawlessness shows the government’s lack of farsightedness and inefficient policy governance,” said Saad Hammadi, policy and advocacy manager at the Canada-based Balsillie School of International Affairs, who has advocated for freedom of speech in Bangladesh. “The internet shutdown makes matters worse. Local news sites are inaccessible, and people in the country are left incommunicado with the rest of the world all in the pretext of conducting sweeping operations by the state that have often resulted in serious human rights violations,” Hammadi added in an email.

Bangladesh has previously utilized internet shutdowns in protest-affected areas to suppress dissent by opposition parties, according to Access Now, an internet watchdog. CIVICUS, a nonprofit monitoring civic freedoms globally, downgraded Bangladesh to “closed” last year—the lowest rating, akin to China and Venezuela—following a crackdown on opposition members and supporters before the national election.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has backed the protesting students and is expected to hold demonstrations in support. Hasina’s party has accused the BNP of inciting violence, conducting raids on the BNP’s headquarters, and arresting activists from the party’s student wing earlier this week. The Awami League and the BNP have a history of mutual accusations regarding political chaos and violence, most recently ahead of the national election, marred by a crackdown on several opposition figures while Hasina’s government accused the BNP of attempting to disrupt the vote.

In response to mass student protests in 2018, Hasina’s government initially suspended the job quotas. However, last month, Bangladesh’s High Court nullified that decision and reinstated the quotas after petitions from relatives of 1971 war veterans, sparking the latest demonstrations. The Supreme Court has since suspended the High Court's ruling pending an appeal hearing, slated for Sunday.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Hasina urged protesters to “wait with patience” for the court verdict, expressing her belief that students would receive justice from the apex court and would not be disappointed.

The ongoing unrest, combined with the government's measures to suppress communication and the heavy-handed response from security forces, underscores the severity of the crisis. The government's approach to addressing these protests and the underlying issues will be crucial in determining the future stability and direction of Bangladesh. The situation remains tense, and the international community will be closely monitoring developments as they unfold.