7 August 2024, NIICE Commentary 9398
Kushmita Kapoor

In July 2024, Bangladesh found itself struggling with a crisis that shook the very foundation of its society. Once bustling with the aliveness of a thriving country, Dhaka’s streets today resonate with the chants of protesters calling for change. The conflicting issue of the government employment ‘quota system’ is at the heart of this turmoil. Students all throughout the nation are protesting against this discriminatory policy that favor a particular group—the offspring of ‘freedom fighters’ in the Bangladeshi independence war. However, protests have expanded beyond calling for the quota system to be abolished in the aftermath of the government’s extraordinary acts of brutality. The government implemented a curfew, deployed the military throughout the area, and shut down the internet networks as discontent and violence spiralled out of hand. The uproar caused by Bangladesh’s quota system has sparked more serious political and economic issues in the country.

The Quota Issue

The quota system was first implemented in 1972, which specified that 30 percent of positions in government agencies and higher learning educational institutes would be set aside for liberation fighters. 10 percent of the quota would then go to women, another 10 percent to members of the lower classes, and 2 percent to individuals with physical disabilities.

For over a decade, Bangladeshi college students have been protesting for the reform of the quota system. On March 2018, hundreds of college students peacefully protested around the nation, calling for changes to the governmental administration’s recruitment quota system, which selects candidates based on quota rather than merit. Following protests, the Sheikh Hassina government eliminated all employment reservations, including the quota for liberation fighters. But at the end of June 2024, the Bangladeshi High Court restored the 30 percent quota system in response to a written appeal filed by a group of war veterans’ families. After the job quotas were affirmed by the high court, there was a protest at Dhaka University.

A Nation Erupts in Protest

In a peaceful demonstration, Dhaka University students protested while sitting with signs and flags, demanding changes to the nation’s employment quota system. However, the protest took a new turn on 14 July after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina referred to the demonstrators as ‘Razakars’ at her press conference.

 Numerous students began participating in the protest, and border guard and police personnel as well as paramilitary Bangladeshi forces were sent to quell the protests. A significant number of demonstrators were slain in the nonviolent demonstration that descended into lethal violence, and the authorities blocked the internet. In relation to the clash during the protest, more than 10,000 individuals have been detained. Sadly, around 300 people have lost their lives in the past weeks.

Security forces used gas & rubber bullets against the demonstrators and the student wing of the ruling party also attacked them. The current state of affairs has upended the country’s established order, which has also given rise to renewed opposition. Along with its student wing, the opposition, who is fed up with the ruling party, has joined the protests on the streets. Approximately 91 people were murdered and hundreds more injured on 4 August, and instead of calling for an end to the demonstration, the administration placed the blame on the opposition party for supporting them. More people are taking to the streets to protest against the current administration as a result of the rising death toll in the nation.

Challenges and Criticisms

The current demonstration has put Bangladeshi politics at risk and raised the possibility of more unrest against the governing party. Although the main focus of the current student protests is quota reform, there is broader popular dissatisfaction with the ruling party. Public dissatisfaction with the status of politics and the economy is widespread, and many people are disappointed with the results of the parliamentary election. The European Union has delayed negotiating trade and commercial relations with Bangladesh as a result of the ongoing protest.

Due to the recent demonstrations and internet outages, Bangladesh has experienced significant economic losses and is currently experiencing a foreign exchange crisis. University graduates are subjected to injustice because of the high unemployment rate among their peers and the discriminatory quota for the grandchildren of freedom fighters, which exacerbates their situation. Opponents contend that the policy modifications are only surface-level and neglect to tackle more fundamental problems with the civil service hiring procedure. The nation is currently experiencing a political crisis since the opposition is weaker than it once was and the ruling party lacks a spokesperson who can win over the people. Bangladesh has a significant clothing export business; thus, its economic position is even worse right now for both production and export. Effectively implementing the new system, maintaining justice in the merit-based approach, and resolving the concerns of groups that once profited from quotas are some of the pressing issues at the moment.

Conclusion

As the student uprising began, demonstrators demanded the government to quit and provide justice of the students who perished in the demonstrations. In addition, they have pushed for a movement against non-cooperation and tax evasion. The students persisted in stating that their demands should be granted while rejecting any invitation to negotiate with the authorities. They have said that their one demand is to uphold justice and humanity in society. As the protest grows, more and more international governments are urging peace talks. The growing number of statewide demonstrations, Prime Minister Hassina fled to India with the intention of seeking political asylum in other country. She has left her position, and the Bangladesh Army is now in charge of figuring out how to get their government to administer the nation. The quota issue is a sobering reminder of the difficulties poor countries face in their pursuit of fair development as Bangladesh navigates a period of instability. It nonetheless emphasizes how difficult it is to strike a balance between the many demands of society.

Kushmita Kapoor is a Post Graduate from the Central University of Gujarat, India.