Government imposes curfew, deploys military to keep order; death toll at 105 amid clashes
The demonstrators have said that they are open to talks with the govt. However, protest co-ordinator Nahid Islam told Reuters, “Discussions and opening fire do not go hand in hand.”As the anti-quota protests turn more violent with each passing day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office on Friday announced the imposition of a nationwide curfew and the deployment of military forces to keep order, reported AFP. The death toll reached 105, as per the reports. Meanwhile, 245 Indian nationals, including 125 Indian students and 13 Nepali students, are set to return to India tonight via the land border from Bangladesh. Television news channels in Bangladesh were off the air, telecommunications were widely disrupted, and many newspaper websites and social media accounts were inactive. Overseas telephone and internet calls were also failing, a Reuters witness said.
Law Minister Anisul Huq has said the government was willing to hold talks with the protesters. According to news agency AP, the demonstrators have said that they are open to talks as well. However, protest co-ordinator Nahid Islam told Reuters, “Discussions and opening fire do not go hand in hand… We cannot trample over dead bodies to hold discussions”. Meanwhile, the Federal Minister said that mobile internet has been temporarily suspended in the country in the wake of the protests.
