The Bangladesh government imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the army on Friday following escalating protests against government job quotas, BBC Bangla reported, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary. The decision aims to restore order amid widespread violence that has claimed the lives of at least 105 people.

The protests, sparked by decentralized student opposition to a rule reserving public jobs for families of independence war veterans, have intensified over the past week. Demonstrators argue that the quota system is discriminatory, favoring pro-government groups. The unrest has seen students clashing with police, hurling bricks, setting vehicles ablaze, and storming jails, with authorities responding with tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades.

Following the violence, the government has also suspended internet and text message services since Thursday, isolating Bangladesh from the world and hampering communication. The curfew, imposed under the Special Powers Act, 1974, is to initially last until Sunday morning, with a two-hour break each afternoon for essential activities. The military’s deployment aims to support civil authorities in maintaining peace and protecting state institutions.

Law Minister Anisul Haque defended the government’s actions to BBC Bangla, attributing the violence to political terrorists attempting to destabilize the country and asserting that the curfew is necessary to prevent further destruction and maintain public order. The Home Ministry’s circular clarified that district magistrates and police commissioners will oversee the implementation of the curfew, determining its duration and conditions.

The European Union and international rights groups have condemned the government’s crackdown, urging restraint and dialogue. Prime Minister Hasina, who had planned diplomatic visits to Spain and Brazil, canceled her trip due to the unrest. Opposition figures and activists, including the Bangladesh National Party’s Tarique Rahman, have called for continued protests, with the government’s offer for talks reportedly rejected by student leaders who demand justice for the deceased and a merit-based recruitment system.