Bangladesh imposes communications blackout as protest violence continues

Mobile internet access blocked and news broadcasts shut down as students demand end to discriminatory job quotas

A communications blackout has been imposed in Bangladesh, with mobile internet access blocked and news broadcasts shut down, as the country continues to be rocked by protests that have killed 39 people this week.

On Thursday night the government said its was shutting down mobile internet for security reasons amid growing protests led by tens of thousands of students, and access to social media was blocked. On Friday morning, television news channels remained off air after the state broadcasting headquarters in Dhaka was stormed and set alight by protesters.