The authorities in Bangladesh ordered a nationwide curfew and deployed the army as clashes between student-led protesters and the police and paramilitary forces killed dozens of people and brought Dhaka, the nation’s capital, to a halt.

       The curfew, announced late on Friday, was imposed indefinitely, but government officials who were not authorized to speak publicly said the government was hopeful that things would calm down by Monday, although they added that the situation was fluid. Officials said the army was needed to help curb vandalism and restore order.

       Across the country, university students have been agitating for weeks about a quota system for government jobs that they say limits their opportunities by benefiting only certain groups, including the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

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