Bangladesh Restores Mobile Internet After Protests Over Job Quotas
On July 29, Bangladesh restored mobile internet services after an 11-day blackout caused by intense protests against government job quotas. The protests, led by students, demanded changes to a system that reserved 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans from the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
State Minister for Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, announced the restoration of 4G services. However, social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube remain restricted.
The protests, which began after a High Court decision in June reinstated the quotas abolished in 2018, turned violent, resulting in over 200 deaths. The government reduced the quota for veterans’ descendants to 5% and limited quotas for ethnic minorities, transgender people, and disabled people to 2%.
Despite the reduction, the government continues to enforce a curfew, and schools remain closed. Many protesters, including student leaders, have been detained. The group Students Against Discrimination has threatened to renew protests if their leaders are not released.
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Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, located to the east of India. It has a lot of rivers and is known for its rich culture and history.
Mobile Internet -: Mobile internet is the internet you can use on your phone or tablet without needing Wi-Fi. It helps you browse websites, use apps, and stay connected while on the go.
Blackout -: A blackout in this context means that the mobile internet was turned off or not working for a period of time. This can happen during emergencies or protests.
Job Quotas -: Job quotas are a system where a certain number of jobs are reserved for specific groups of people. In this case, 30% of government jobs were reserved for relatives of veterans.
Veterans -: Veterans are people who have served in the military. In Bangladesh, some government jobs were reserved for their family members.
Social Media -: Social media are websites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where people can share information, photos, and videos with others.
Curfew -: A curfew is a rule that requires people to stay indoors during certain hours, usually at night. It is often used to maintain order during emergencies.
Detained -: Detained means being held or kept in custody by the police or authorities. It usually happens when someone is suspected of breaking the law.