By Hadiza Suleman
Authorities of the government of Bangladesh, Thursday, announced the suspension of mobile internet services nationwide following students’ unrest over government’s job policy.
Thousands of students had taken to the streets across Bangladesh protesting the government’s controversial job quota system. The quota reserves a 30 percent of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
The protests began peacefully, but later turned violent following police’s attempt to disperse the crowds. This resulted in the deaths of at least nine students.
The government announced the shutting down of internet services in the country to curtail the spread of the unrest.
According to the government, “Mobile internet has been temporarily suspended due to various rumors and the unstable situation created on social media.
“Services would be restored once the situation returned to normal,” Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the junior information technology minister, told newsmen.
The protests have spread to major cities across the country, with demonstrators blockading highways and railway routes, bringing transportation to a standstill.
Riot police and the Border Guard paramilitary force have been deployed to curtail the protests, with reports of tear gas and rubber bullets being fired at demonstrators.
The students are demanding the abolition of the quota system. They claim it is unfair and denies them job opportunities based on merit.
