The recent week has been marked by violent protests in Bangladesh, as students rallied against the government’s civil service job quota system. The protests have turned deadly, with numerous casualties and injuries reported as riot police clashed with demonstrators in Dhaka and other cities. Protesters, armed with sticks, have been met with tear gas and rubber bullets from security forces.
The protests were sparked by the high court’s decision to reinstate a quota system for government jobs, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government had previously removed in 2018. This system reserves over half of civil service positions for specific groups, including 30% for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war. Protesters argue that the system is unfair and gives an advantage to supporters of Hasina’s ruling Awami League party. They are calling for a merit-based recruitment process instead.
The unrest began at Dhaka University on July 1 and has since spread across the country, resulting in daily street gatherings and blockades of transportation routes. The situation escalated on July 15 when members of the Bangladesh Chatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, attacked protesters, leading to clashes with security forces. This prompted authorities to shut down mobile and internet services, close schools and universities, and deploy additional security forces. Protesters also set fire to the state broadcaster BTV’s headquarters.
Prime Minister Hasina has urged patience until the Supreme Court’s verdict on the quota system in August and has announced a judicial investigation into the killings. However, her remarks comparing the protesters to historical traitors have only fueled more anger. The Law Minister has expressed a willingness to hold talks with protesters, but tensions remain high.
The protests have brought to light broader frustrations over high unemployment, especially among young people, despite Bangladesh’s strong economic growth under Hasina. Many students feel that the quota system benefits a politically connected elite and restricts opportunities for candidates based on merit. The protests reflect a larger movement against what is seen as the authoritarian nature of Hasina’s government.
Internationally, there have been calls from the US and UN for restraint and investigations into the violence. Bangladeshi students have also held protests in cities like New York, Melbourne, Sydney, and Copenhagen in solidarity with the movement back home.
At present, Bangladesh is dealing with a near-total internet shutdown, ongoing closures of educational institutions, and a heavy security presence on the streets. The situation remains tense as the nation awaits the Supreme Court’s decision and any potential dialogue between the government and the protesters.
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