Protesters against a quota system for government jobs in Bangladesh on Friday resumed mass protests that earlier killed more than 200 people and are holding a nationwide “March for Justice,” ABC News reports.
More than 2,000 protesters gathered in parts of the capital Dhaka, some shouting “Down with the autocrat” and demanding justice for victims, while police circled around them.
Police clashed with dozens of students in Dhaka’s Uttara area, while security personnel fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse stone-throwing demonstrators. It was the latest round of demonstrations against Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose government has been rocked by student protests that have so far shown no signs of subsiding.
Analysts say what began as a peaceful demonstration by students against the quota system by which government jobs are allocated has turned into a bloody and unusual uprising against Hasina, whose 15-year rule over the country is now being tested as never before.
How it all started
Since violence erupted on July 15, the protests have turned into a major crisis for the 76-year-old Hasina, who in January retained power for a fourth consecutive term in an election boycotted by her main opponents, making the outcome virtually certain even before the votes were counted.
Authorities have switched off the internet and imposed a “shoot-to-kill” curfew to curb violent demonstrations. Schools and universities remain closed.
The deaths of demonstrators have shaken Bangladesh, with videos of violent clashes between security forces and students, with police firing bullets and tear gas shells, appearing on social media. In one incident, a six-year-old girl was shot dead while playing on a rooftop as her father tried to shield her from gunfire.
It all started when students, frustrated by the lack of good jobs, demanded the abolition of the quota system for government jobs, which they believe is discriminatory. Under this system, 30 per cent of the jobs were reserved for relatives of veterans who had fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan in 1971. They argued that this benefited supporters of Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement, and demanded that the system be replaced by a merit-based system.
In response, the Supreme Court reduced the quota for veterans to 5 per cent. However, the anger and protests have not subsided. Experts say it reflects a much larger popular rage against the government, economic discontent and ultimately a revolt against Hasina herself, despite the comfort her development programme brings to the people. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, said:
“There have been plenty of protests during the Awami League’s regime over the last 15 years, but nothing as large, long, and violent as this one.”
Right place at the right time
This time, he says, there was a perfect storm: an unpopular quota system, a furious government response that turned deadly, contained anger against the state and growing economic stress on most citizens. According to Kugelman, the government’s oft-used tactic of quelling protests with force and some negotiation this time around has only “fanned the protests, not extinguished them.”
The clamour has also highlighted the extent of economic discontent in Bangladesh, once lauded for its successful growth. Like other countries, it suffered after a pandemic and war in Ukraine drove up commodity prices. Today, exports have plummeted, foreign exchange reserves are drying up, as are remittances. The slowing economy has highlighted the lack of quality jobs for young graduates, who are increasingly flocking to government jobs that are more stable and lucrative.
For many students, this was the reason they took to the streets, but the government’s violent response kept them there, even when the quota system was scaled back. Student, teacher and civil society groups say they are now fighting for justice for those killed, while Hasina’s political opponents are demanding her resignation.
Mohammad Rakib Uddin, an 18-year-old college student, was protesting along with hundreds of others when bullets pierced his thigh. Uddin said he was wearing his college uniform and survived after friends took him to hospital. He also added:
“They have brutally and inhumanely attacked us. We are general students — we don’t have weapons, bombs or even a stick in our hands. We were protesting by just holding flags. Many who were with me might have died as they were shot at their waists and heads. By the grace of the Almighty, I am alive.”
However, the government said opposition activists and their armed cohorts joined the students to attack security personnel and government offices.
The turmoil continues
The violence has mostly subsided and normalcy is slowly returning to the country. Curfews have been relaxed, internet has been restored, and banks and offices have opened their doors. But there is still turmoil around Hasina, prompting international outcry from the UN and the US.
Her critics say the past few weeks of violent unrest are the result of her authoritarian nature and lust for control, no matter the cost. For years, her political opponents have accused her of anti-democratic behaviour, with her government jailing thousands of them. International human rights groups accused her of using security forces and courts to suppress dissent and opposition, which the government denied.
Still, Hasina has resorted to accusing the two main opposition parties that backed the students of inciting violence. On Thursday, her government banned one of them, “Jamaat-e-Islami” its student wing and other associated organisations, a move that could escalate tensions again. However, Kugelman does not believe there is an immediate threat to her political survival. He noted:
“But she has incurred soaring reputational costs and faces unprecedented political vulnerability. That could come back to haunt her if there are fresh waves of anti-government protests in the coming weeks or months.”
When will Bangladesh return to normalcy?
Nur Sharmin, a 35-year-old mother, says her family’s life has come to a standstill. Her 16-year-old daughter’s school is closed and she worries about her future. Sharmeen is afraid to leave the house almost every day. She said:
“Everything has changed after all these horrible incidents. I just want to live as a normal citizen in a safe environment. My daughter needs a safe country to grow up in, it’s her right. We are not asking for much.”
