Bangladesh imposes nationwide curfew as protests over government jobs escalate

Police fire tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse students shouting slogans in favor of quota system in public service at the university campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Rajib Dhar/AP)

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government announced a nationwide curfew across Bangladesh ate on Friday and ordered the deployment of military forces to maintain order following deadly protests over the allocation of government jobs.

The announcement was made by Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, and came after police and security officials fired on protesters earlier in the day and banned all gatherings in the capital. Several people were killed, media reports said.