Bangladeshi expatriates in the UAE were increasingly anxious as violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement escalated in their homeland. Moreover, communication networks were severely affected, and the internet was completely shut down across the country. "We have no means to contact our families," expatriates expressed their concern to Khaleej Times on Friday.

An unofficial count by AFP placed the death toll from the ongoing student protests at 50 by Friday afternoon, based on reports from hospitals nationwide. Telecommunications were extensively disrupted, with TV news channels going off the air. International calls and internet-based communications were severely affected, while several Bangladesh newspapers' websites failed to update on Friday and were also inactive on social media.

Akram Hassan, a 28-year-old security guard in Sharjah, had been persistently attempting to reach his family in Bangladesh. "The internet has been extremely slow for the past four days, and I could hardly get through. However, since yesterday morning, it has been completely cut off, and I don't know what condition my family is in," said Hassan, who hails from Feni town.

The government did not provide immediate comments on the disrupted communications, but stated that police in Dhaka had indefinitely prohibited all public gatherings and marches. This is considered the worst unrest Bangladesh has experienced in years, with students demanding the government abolish its preferential hiring policies for coveted civil service positions. Analysts suggest that economic concerns are exacerbating the public's anger.

Another expatriate in Dubai, Altaf Hussain, expressed his deep concern about the situation. "My family did not have sufficient food supplies at home, and I have no idea how they are managing without food," said Hussain, a printing and advertising executive in Deira. He was unable to contact his wife for almost five days but finally reached her on Thursday morning.

Ashraful Islam, a cleaner in Jebel Ali, had also been unable to speak with his family for days. "The last I heard from them was about a clash that resulted in two deaths in our city. I am extremely worried about my family's safety and well-being," said Islam, a 25-year-old expatriate from Chittagong in Bangladesh.