Bangladesh still without internet as things calm down after deadly protests

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

BANGLADESH IS WITHOUT INTERNET FOR A FIFTH DAY AND THE GOVERNMENT DECLARED MONDAY A PUBLIC HOLIDAY – AS AUTHORITIES STAY IN CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THINGS HAVE SEEMINGLY CALMED DOWN AFTER LAST WEEK’S DEADLY PROTESTS. 

SUNDAY – THE COUNTRY’S HIGH COURT SCALED BACK A CONTROVERSIAL SYSTEM FOR AWARDING GOVERNMENT JOBS… WHICH SPARKED VIOLENT PROTESTS THAT CULMINATED IN A CURFEW AND THE MILITARY BEING GIVEN SHOOT-ON-SIGHT ORDERS.

THE CLASHES STARTED WITH PROTESTERS – MAINLY STUDENTS – DEMANDING BANGLADESH’S GOVERNMENT END A QUOTA THAT SET ASIDE 30 PERCENT OF GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF “FREEDOM FIGHTERS”. 

THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS WERE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT IN THE COUNTRY’S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE IN 19-71.

UNDER THE HIGH COURT’S SUNDAY RULING – NOW ONLY 5 PERCENT OF GOVERNMENT JOBS WILL BE SAVED FOR FREEDOM FIGHTERS’ FAMILIES. 

THAT MEANS 93 PERCENT OF CIVIL SERVICE JOBS IN BANGLADESH WILL NOW BE FILLED VIA A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM… WHICH IS WHAT PROTESTERS WERE CALLING FOR. 

THE REMAINING 2 PERCENT OF JOBS WILL BE RESERVED FOR MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES… AS WELL AS TRANSGENDER AND DISABLED PEOPLE.

LOCALS NEWS SOURCES SAY AT LEAST A HUNDRED PEOPLE DIED AFTER THE PROTESTS TURNED VIOLENT – THOUGH, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RELEASED AND OFFICIAL NUMBER.