The Bangladesh army imposed a curfew in Dhaka after student-led protests against government job quotas turned deadly, leaving at least 105 people killed and prompting international criticism.

The curfew follows violent clashes between protesters and security forces, including the use of tear gas and sound grenades by police. These protests, driven by high youth unemployment and the controversial quota system for government jobs, have caused widespread chaos in Dhaka, leading to mass arrests, internet shutdowns, and the halting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's foreign travel plans. The international community has condemned the government's response, highlighting the growing tension and crisis in Bangladesh.

The current wave of protests has its roots in widespread frustration among Bangladesh’s youth. Nearly 20% of the country's 170 million people are young individuals facing high unemployment rates. The dissatisfaction has been exacerbated by the reinstatement of the controversial quota system, which reserves 30% of government jobs for families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

Initially scrapped by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2018, the quota system was reinstated by a court last month, triggering a resurgence of discontent among young job seekers. Although the Supreme Court has since suspended the reinstatement pending a hearing on August 7, the unrest has not abated.

Dhaka has seen some of the worst instances of chaos. At Dhaka Medical College Hospital alone, 27 bodies were brought in between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, underscoring the severity of the clashes. Protesters have thrown bricks, set vehicles on fire, and even stormed a jail in the central Dhaka district of Narsingdi, where over 850 inmates were freed and the facility set ablaze.

To control the escalating situation, the government suspended internet and text message services on Thursday, effectively isolating Bangladesh from the rest of the world. The suspension has disrupted communication both within the country and with the outside world, with overseas telephone calls mostly failing to connect while media websites and social media handles remained inactive.

International rights groups and the European Union have criticized these measures as well as actions taken by security forces. The use of tear gas, sound grenades, and force to disperse protesters has drawn significant condemnation, pointing to concerns regarding human rights violations.

The curfew imposed by the army was briefly eased for two hours on Saturday to allow residents to shop for essential supplies. However, the situation remains tense as student leaders, activists, and members of opposition parties are arrested. Nahid Islam, a leading coordinator of the students' agitation, was detained at 2 a.m. on Saturday, while Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has highlighted the widespread arrests.

Amidst the crisis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has had to cancel her planned visits to Spain and Brazil, indicating the extent to which the protests have disrupted normal governance and diplomatic activities.

The situation in Bangladesh remains precarious as the nation waits for the Supreme Court's decision regarding the quota system in early August. Until then, tensions between the youth, protesters, and the government are expected to continue, reflecting deep-rooted issues of employment and governance that need addressing.