Bangladesh Protests Escalate, Over 130 Dead

Bangladesh has descended into chaos as student-led protests against a controversial job quota system have resulted in over 130 deaths and numerous injuries. The quota reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of 1971 war veterans, which protesters argue is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party. In response to escalating violence, the government has imposed a nationwide curfew, shut down internet services, and granted police 'shoot-on-sight' orders. Prime Minister Hasina's inflammatory remarks labeling protesters as 'Razakars,' a term for collaborators with Pakistan during the 1971 war, have further fueled tensions. The Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of the quota system, which had been abolished in 2018 but was recently reinstated by a court order. The unrest represents the most significant challenge to Hasina's government in over a decade.