Schools and universities across Bangladesh have been closed indefinitely following the deaths of six individuals during protests over government job quotas. University students have been demonstrating against the policy that reserves certain public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes from the 1971 independence war, as well as for women, ethnic minorities, and the disabled. The students argue that the quota system is discriminatory and are demanding a merit-based recruitment process.
Several cities, including the capital Dhaka, have witnessed violent clashes between supporters of the anti-quota movement and members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League. These confrontations have involved students attacking each other with bricks and sticks, while police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Student activists report that hundreds have been injured.
“We blame the BCL members for the violence. They killed the protesters. Police didn’t intervene to save the ordinary students,” said Abdullah Salehin Ayoun, a coordinator of the anti-quota movement.
Government jobs are highly sought after in Bangladesh due to their competitive salaries. Currently, over half of these positions are reserved for specific groups, which critics argue unfairly benefits pro-government families. In 2018, following protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government abolished the quotas, but a court reinstated them in early June, sparking the latest unrest.
The recent clashes have resulted in fatalities: three people in Chittagong, two in Dhaka, and one student in Rangpur. Reports indicate that at least three of the deceased were students, though official confirmation is pending.
Law Minister Anisul Huq blamed opposition groups for the violence, stating, “The student fronts of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] have infiltrated this anti-quota movement. They are the ones who initiated the violence.”
Despite the top court’s suspension of the current quota system, protests are expected to continue until a permanent resolution is achieved. The court has scheduled a hearing for August 7, where students will have the opportunity to present their case.
In a late-night raid on Tuesday, police targeted the headquarters of the main opposition party, the BNP, in Dhaka following the violent clashes. Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described the raid as a drama meant to intimidate students into ending their protests.
Student leaders have expressed anger over recent comments by Prime Minister Hasina, accusing her of comparing anti-quota protesters to “razakar” – a term for those who collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war. These remarks, they claim, have incited further attacks by BCL members.
“They want to suppress our voices through creating a reign of terror in the country. If I don’t protest today, they will beat me another day. That’s why I am on the streets to protest,” said Rupaiya Sherstha, a student at Dhaka University.
Government ministers have denied these allegations, insisting that Prime Minister Hasina’s comments were misinterpreted. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Ali Arafat, stated that the violence began after anti-quota students intimidated residents of a Dhaka hall.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the government to protect demonstrators from threats and violence. Meanwhile, the government has increased security by deploying the paramilitary Border Guards Bangladesh in five major cities, including Dhaka and Chittagong. The students have vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
BBC