On Thursday, 18th July, at least one young man was killed and several others were reported injured during a clash between quota reform protesters and police in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The incident took place during a peaceful “Complete Shutdown” that was called by the coordination committee of the Quota Reform Movement across Bangladesh. The aim was to push the government to agree to their demands to reform the quota system and to protest against the attacks on student protesters. Everything was shut excluding hospitals and other emergency services.
[THREAD]: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BANGLADESH RIGHT NOW ? 🇧🇩 pic.twitter.com/jZhxoO2Zbq
— 🇧🇩 (@bengalielonmusk) July 17, 2024
229 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to maintain law and order. The students also want reforms in the jobs policy that offers 56% quota to the families of freedom fighters. Dhaka University student and one of the organiser of the movement, Nahid Islam, said during a press conference on 17th July, “As part of the program, all highways and railways across the country will be blocked on Thursday.” He added that the protests “Bangla Blockade” will continue till their demands are met.
If we breakdown the quota system, 30% is reserved for the children and grandchildren of 1971 freedom fighters, 10% for the women, 10% for the districts based on population, 5% for ethnic minorities and 1% for the people with disabilities. It leaves only 44% for the job seekers who can secure jobs on the basis of merit. The quota system was introduced in 1972. In 1997, the 30% quota for freedom fighters was extended to their chidren. In 2010, it was further extended to the grandchildren of the freedom fighters.
On 17th July, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, announced a judicial enquiry into the incidents where six people lost their lives during the protests across Bangladesh. She further assured steps would be taken against those who committed crimes and would get appropriate punishment.
On 16th July, the University Grants Commission(UGC) of Bangladesh announced that all public and private universities, its affiliated medical colleges and other institutions, will remain closed until further notice. Furthermore, the Education Ministry announced that all secondary and Higher Secondary educational institutions including polytechnic institutes would remain closed until further notice.. As per reports, university students have taken over the campuses which led to the shutdown of universities and other education institutes.
⚡️Scenes from the protests in Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/OXBLj7HleA
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) July 18, 2024
There were slogans “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar!”. On 14th July, during a press conference, PM Hasina expressed regret that the protesters were calling themselves ‘Razakars’. In Bangla, Razakars mean “traitors’. She said, “Are the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters not talented? Are only the children and grandchildren of the Razakars talented?”.
For those who are unaware, Razakars that meant “volunteers” were paramilitary forces set up by General Tikka Khan in 1971 to help Islamabad to hold control on East Pakistan and curb ongoing liberation movement led by Awami League. Razakars worked with the Pakistani armed forces and led to some of the worst atrocities against the freedom fighters during 1971 war.
PM Hasina said, “I felt sorry when I heard yesterday the students of Ruqayyah Hall calling themselves Razakars. Do they know what had taken place there on March 25, 1971? Some 300 girls were killed and 40 girls were raped and taken to the Pakistani camps. They don’t feel ashamed to call themselves Razakars? They didn’t know how the Pakistani occupation forces and Razakar Bahini had resorted to torture in the country—they didn’t see the inhuman torture and bodies lying on the roads. So, they don’t feel ashamed to call themselves Razakar. Our only target is to establish the spirit of the Liberation War. Lakhs of martyrs shed blood as lakhs of our mothers and sisters were violated. We won’t forget their contribution. We have to keep it in mind.”
Instead of calming down the situation, her remarks agitated the protesters further. “Chaite gelam odhikar, bone galam razakar” (loose translation: “We are being called traitors for asking for our rights”), were raised during the protests after that press conference
Since 1st July, university students and teachers have been staging protests against the quota for the children of freedom fighters in government jobs. So far, six people have been killed with many reported injured. It has been alleged that the protesters were attacked by the police and the student organisations affiliated with the ruling government.
On 5th June 2024, the High Court in Bangladesh passed a judgment setting aside a 2018 government circular cancelling the 30% quota for freedom fighters’ descendants in government jobs. The circular was issued given the quota reform movement in 2018.
The constant change in the quota led to nationwide protests in 2018 after which the government issued a circular cancelling the quota system for first and second-class jobs. The matter went to the court and on 5th June 2024, the High Court ruled that the circular was illegal re-establishing quotas in government jobs. The Bangladesh government has appealed against the ruling and the Supreme Court has suspended the High Court’s judgment as the matter will be heard by the apex court of Bangladesh. The Chief Justice has already asked the protesting students to return to the classes and assured that the judgment will be passed in four weeks.
According to the experts, the violence and deaths have been unfortunate as the government is on the protesters’ side. However, the protests are no longer just about the quota but it is linked to the overall frustration of the students. According to reports, the students say that the third generation of freedom fighters should not get the benefit of quota.
According to Mubashar Hasan, an expert on Bangladesh and post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Oslo, Norway, the protests were peaceful for two weeks but they became violent after the Chahatra League, an active partner of the ruling party, and police came down heavily on the protesters. Speaking to India Today, he said, “These rampant violations of human rights and rights to life and liberty have been a signature of the current regime. These made students angry, and they are ousting ruling party student leaders and activists from student dormitories.”
United Nations has stepped in urging the Bangladesh government to protect the protesting students against any form of threat or violence. Spokesperson of the Secretary-general Stéphane Dujarric said that the UN was aware of the situation and they were following the updates closely.
