The Bangladesh extended a curfew today to control violent protests that have killed dozens of people, while later today the country’s highest court is expected to rule on the public sector recruitment quota system that has sparked angry backlash .

Bloody clashes between student protesters and police have claimed the lives of 114 people, according to Reuters. According to AFP’s count at least 133 people have been killed this week in Bangladesh.

Soldiers patrol the streets of the capital Dhaka, the epicenter of protests that have escalated into clashes between protesters and security forces.

Internet and messaging services in Bangladesh have been suspended since Thursday, with the country virtually cut off as police crack down on protesters who defy a ban on public gatherings.

The curfew imposed on Friday was extended until today at 15.00 (local time, 12.00 Greek time), pending a hearing at the Supreme Court, and will continue for an unspecified period after a two-hour suspension to allow citizens to obtain the necessarily, as reported by local media. Universities and colleges are closed from Wednesday.

Unrest in Bangladesh

Since the beginning of July, there have been almost daily demonstrations with the request to end the quota system in public sector recruitment. Today about half of these positions are reserved for specific social groups.

Bangladesh

The Supreme Court is meeting today to make a decision on whether or not to abolish these quotas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hinted earlier this week that the system opposed by protesters would be scrapped.

But after the intensifying crackdown in recent days and the rising death toll, it is not certain that a favorable ruling will assuage the public’s anger.

The protests – the largest since Hasina was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term this year – have also been fueled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of the population.