What Is Happening In Bangladesh (Ximage@taslimanasreen)
Chaos reign in Dhaka now. After protests by students against a quota system for government jobs turned deadly this week, Bangladesh announced it will indefinitely shut down all public and private universities. At least six people were dead and scores injured during the protest.
The country has been shocked by protests for weeks over public sector job quotas, which include a 30% reservation for family members of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan. It has sparked anger among students who face high youth unemployment rates. Out of a total population of 170 million people, nearly 32 million young Bangladeshis not in work or education.
The demonstrations went haywire after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to meet the protesters’ demands, citing ongoing court proceedings, and labelled those opposing the quota as “razakar” – a term used for those who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war.
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The clash between thousands of anti-quota protesters and members of the student wing of the ruling Awami League party across the country made the situation violent. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters, said media reports.
At least three students were among those killed during the clash, said police.
“We urgently call on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters and proper treatment of all those injured,” Amnesty International said in a post on X.
In order to maintain the law and order, authorities have deployed riot police, along with the Border Guard Bangladesh paramilitary force. Yesterday, the University Grants Commission ordered all universities to shut down and instructed students to vacate the premises immediately for security reasons. High schools, colleges and other educational institutions were also shut.
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The co-ordinator of the anti-quota protests, Nahid Islam, said students will hold processions on Wednesday carrying coffins in solidarity with those that lost their lives, as quoted by media.
Police’s detective branch said they recovered 100 crude bombs and several bottles of petrol during the raid that was conducted after a bus was set on fire near the BNP office.
The issue is the first significant challenge to Hasina’s government since she secured a fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by the BNP. According to experts, the unrest is the result of the stagnant job growth in the private sector, making government jobs, which offer regular wage hikes and other privileges, increasingly desirable.
56% of government jobs in Bangladesh are reserved under various quotas, including 10% for women, 10% for people from underdeveloped districts, 5% for indigenous communities, and 1% for people with disabilities.
