DHAKA – Garment factories and banks in Bangladesh reopened on July 24, following the easing of a curfew imposed to manage deadly clashes triggered by student protests over civil service employment quotas. The unrest, which erupted last week, has resulted in at least 186 fatalities, based on reports from police and hospitals, marking some of the most severe violence during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s time in office.
Thousands of troops have been deployed to maintain order across the nation, while the internet remains largely shut down nearly a week after a nationwide suspension was enforced. With relative calm returning to the streets, the country’s crucial textile factories resumed operations after receiving government clearance.
“We were worried about the future of our company,” said Khatun, a 40-year-old factory worker who gave only her first name. Despite the turmoil, she expressed support for the student protesters’ demands for reforming government hiring practices and was appalled by the violence.
“The government should implement all their demands,” Khatun added. “A lot of them were killed. They sacrificed for future generations.” The garment industry is a vital part of Bangladesh’s economy, generating $50 billion annually in export revenue and employing millions, predominantly young women, who produce clothing for international brands like H&M, Zara, and Gap.
“All garment factories have reopened across the country today,” a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association told AFP. The curfew was relaxed on July 24 to allow limited commercial activities, although it remains in effect for 19 hours each day for the general population.
Key financial institutions, including banks and the Dhaka Stock Exchange, as well as some government offices, were allowed to operate between 10am and 3pm during the curfew break, according to government spokesman Shibli Sadiq.
The student-led group behind the protests has temporarily halted demonstrations until at least July 26, with a leader stating they did not seek reform “at the expense of so much blood.” Police have detained at least 2,500 individuals since the unrest began. Prime Minister Hasina’s administration has indicated that the stay-home order will be further relaxed as the situation stabilizes.
The reintroduction of the quota system in June, which had been suspended since 2018, provoked significant unrest among graduates facing a severe employment crisis, with around 18 million young people unemployed, according to government data. The Supreme Court on July 21 reduced the number of reserved jobs but did not fully abolish the quota system, falling short of the protesters’ demands.