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Bangladesh has reinstated mobile internet services after an 11-day blackout, which was implemented to quell protests over government job quotas.

What’s the deal: The decision to cut internet access in Bangladesh was driven by escalating protests against the government’s job quota system, which allocated 30% of public sector jobs to the descendants of 1971 war veterans. This system sparked widespread anger among students and job seekers who felt the quotas were discriminatory and exacerbated unemployment. The protests, which began peacefully, quickly grew in scale, becoming increasingly disruptive.

What the government is saying: A state official said, “We have decided to restore the 4G network connectivity from 3 pm [09:00 GMT] today.” Social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Youtube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, are still blocked despite restoring the internet. In addition, the country is still imposing a nationwide curfew.

Arrests: During the protests against Bangladesh’s job quota system, thousands of demonstrators have been arrested, including student leaders.

Deaths: The Bangladeshi government claims that at least 147 people died during the protests against the job quota system. However, independent sources estimate the death toll to be over 200. The victims included students, police officers, and activists.