DHAKA: Bangladesh ordered on Thursday the countrywide shutdown of its mobile internet network, the country’s junior telecommunications minister said, after student protests that have killed around nine people.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak told the media that the authorities have decided to suspended its mobile internet network. He confirmed that the decision was taken to ensure the security of the people in the country.
According to AP, citizens stayed home and many malls closed their doors this morning in Dhaka as protesters tried to impose a “complete shutdown” following days of student protesters violently clashing with the security personnel and ruling party-backed students. There is no vehicles and commuters are facing issue due to shortage of transport after the deadly protest in the country.
Students have been staging protest demonstrations for weeks against a quota system for government jobs they say supports allies of the ruling party, but the demonstrations have escalated since violence broke out at Dhaka University on Monday. Around six people were killed amid deadly protests on Tuesday, leading the authorities to ask universities across Bangladesh to close and police and security forces to raid the opposition political party’s headquarters.
The violence continued late Wednesday in the country’s capital. Traffic was stopped on a major highway as police and security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protest demonstrators, who set fire to a toll booth, jammed streets and detonated explosive materials, a local TV reported.
