Bangladesh police given ‘shoot-at-sight’ orders

Dhaka: Police imposed a strict curfew with a "shooton-sight" order across Bangladesh as military forces patrolled parts of the capital Saturday after scores were killed and hundreds injured in clashes over the allocation of civil service jobs.

This week's violence has killed at least 115 people so far and poses a monumental challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's autocratic government after 15 years in office.

The curfew began at midnight and was relaxed from noon to 2 p.m. for people to run essential errands, and is expected to last until 10 a.m.

Sunday, allowing officers to fire on mobs in extreme cases, said lawmaker Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party. The streets of Dhaka were almost deserted at daybreak, with troops on foot and in armoured personnel carriers patrolling the sprawling megacity of 20 million.

The demonstrations—called for mainly by student groups—started weeks ago to Aprotest a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971.

778 Indian students return home

Thus far, 778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports.

In addition, around 200 students have returned home by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports," the ministry said. Bangladesh is reeling under deadly clashes, with protesting students demanding that the Sheikh Hasina-led government scrap the controversial job-quota system. (Agencies)