23 Jul 2024 | 03:04 PM UTC
Bangladesh: Further civil unrest likely nationwide through late July /update 11
Further rallies, disruptions are likely in Bangladesh through late July despite partial broadband internet restoration, curfew relaxation.
Further rallies and related disruptions will likely persist nationwide through late July despite some relaxed restrictions and temporary suspension of protest activity. Authorities will restore limited broadband internet access across Bangladesh, effective late July 23. Social media websites will reportedly remain restricted; officials did not immediately specify when mobile internet services would normalize. Some conflicting reports suggest that the government will resume broadband internet access in Chattogram and Dhaka and extend the restoration to additional areas over time. On July 23, the government extended the ongoing curfew restrictions through July 25, although the hours have been relaxed in some areas. In Dhaka, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi, officials will reportedly ease the measure from 10:00-17:00 through July 25, with further details pending about other regions. Additional extensions are likely based on the perceived threat severity levels.
As of July 23, some short-distance passenger bus services have resumed in certain regions, including Barisal and Chattogram. Some closed educational institutions have purportedly reopened. Certain businesses, including commercial banks, will remain operational 11:00-15:00 July 24-25. Additionally, leaders of the ongoing student demonstrations announced a 48-hour suspension of their activities, demanding several objectives, including reopening academic institutions. Activists have threatened to continue their indefinite protest campaign if their demands are unmet. Some protesters or organizations could hold disruptive demonstrations despite the announcement of a 48-hour suspension by some activists.
Since early July, activists seeking merit-based job reservation reforms have held marches, sit-in protests, general strikes, and road and rail blockades in several areas. Further demonstrations of varying types are highly likely to persist. Well-attended rallies have occurred in or near university campuses in Dhaka and other urban centers such as Bogura, Chattogram, and Rangpur. Other popular rally sites include bus and railway stations, monuments, public squares, and major intersections.
Demonstrators have previously used projectiles, sharp weapons, firearms, and crude bombs to attack government offices, security personnel, and various vehicles, including police patrol vehicles, private cars, and public buses. Police have utilized mass arrests and significant force, including live ammunition, to disperse gatherings. Small-scale explosions, arson, vandalism attacks, riots, armed clashes between rival protest or political groups, and assassination attempts targeting political or student union leaders cannot be ruled out. The ongoing unrest has caused widespread disruptions to various transport and business services. Diplomatic facilities could continue to suspend their operations in response to planned or ongoing rallies.
Avoid all public gatherings due to the potential for increased violence. Depart the area at the first sign of any security disturbance. Confirm ground transport and flight arrangements before departure; do not check out of accommodations without confirming onward travel. Do not attempt to navigate any roadblocks, as protesters could attack vehicles. Plan accordingly for business disruptions. Monitor trusted local media for updates on protests and associated disruptions, as organizers may not announce them in advance. Heed all official instructions, including curfew orders, security and traffic advisories. Maintain contact with diplomatic representations.
The ongoing violence has resulted in nearly 200 deaths and thousands of injuries. Consequently, multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK, have advised against all nonessential travel to Bangladesh until further notice. On July 21, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruled to reduce the reservation in civil service jobs for families of veterans who served in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War from 30 percent to five percent.
The reservations for other categories, such as ethnic minorities and the physically challenged, were also decreased following violent protests advocating for meritocracy over the past week. These demonstrations initially began after a lower court decision reinstated job quotas that had been reformed in 2018 due to similar student protests. Further unrest regarding potential additional reductions in reservations and/or broader government policies is anticipated.
