*Security Alert*
Location: Dhaka, other cities across Bangladesh.
Event: The Government of Bangladesh extended its curfew indefinitely, ordering everyone to stay inside. The Bangladeshi Army has been deployed nationwide. This is in response to ongoing student demonstrations… pic.twitter.com/iPDDGXgxvp
— U.S. Embassy Dhaka (@usembassydhaka) July 23, 2024
The government of Bangladesh has deployed the military and killed protesters amid a nationwide internet and mobile censorship, leaving nearly 200 people dead after five days of unrest. The protests initially ignited over a quota system that allocated 30% of stable civil-service jobs to relatives of veterans of Bangladesh’s independence war with Pakistan, but a court has since scaled back the quota. Despite the censorship preventing the world from fully witnessing the atrocities, some images have emerged.
https://twitter.com/hrw/status/1816111294417678626
The student protesters behind the movement have vowed a 48-hour pause but stated they are not retreating, even under torture. This grave episode highlights the need for decentralization of internet access in the face of government repression. The Bangladeshi government has been constructing a surveillance state, utilizing the internet to maintain control by shutting down access in certain regions, restricting freedoms, using spyware to monitor citizens, and arresting dissidents expressing themselves online.
During protests, the Bangladeshi government has deployed the army against student protesters, imposed shoot-on-sight curfew orders, and shut down internet services.
International pressure is needed to protect human rights.https://t.co/zvKpJ6p8e0 pic.twitter.com/mP9PG7bdVc
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) July 23, 2024
Zulkarnian Saer Khan, an investigative journalist covering Bangladesh, says, “There are fires in stadiums, there are fires in metro stations. So the people who have been deprived of their fundamental rights—democratic rights—have taken to the streets now.”
The unrest follows heavily rigged elections that swept the ruling party into power for the fourth consecutive term. Laws have been introduced to muzzle the press and persecute critics, while the government employs spyware and surveillance technologies.
As the internet blackout persists, verifying the number of deaths becomes increasingly difficult. However, journalists continue to document and share information, estimating more than 180 deaths. This scenario serves as a reminder that during crises, internet access may be restricted if it does not align with the interests of the ruling political class, and governments that have built surveillance states may eventually use these tools to bloody effect.
Military suppresses dissent in Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, one of the world’s longest-serving female heads of government, has faced severe backlash due to her recent actions. Known for combating Islamic militancy and reducing poverty while maintaining strong ties with both India and China, her tenure has also been marked by increasing authoritarianism, consolidating power, rewarding loyalists, and dealing harshly with dissenters.
The protests, which originated as a peaceful demonstration against specific quotas, were met with an intense and violent response from the government, pushing the country to the brink of anarchy. The military now patrols the streets, the internet is blocked, and communication via phone is heavily restricted. This level of political violence is unprecedented in recent decades of Bangladeshi history, prompting diplomats and analysts to decry the government’s actions as atrocities.
The widespread anger over the bloodshed shows no signs of abating. Bangladesh has started to relax a curfew imposed after the deadly clashes, allowing the reopening of banks, government offices, and garment factories. However, educational institutions remain closed until further notice.
The protesters have issued new demands, including a public apology for the mass killing of students, resignation of government ministers and police officers involved in the violence, compensation for the families of those killed and injured, and a ban on all party-affiliated student politics. Three missing coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were found blindfolded five days after their disappearance, confirming their abduction. While broadband internet has been partially restored, mobile data remains blocked, and social media sites are inaccessible.
The nation watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution and the restoration of normalcy.
