Job quotas cause deadly turmoil in Bangladesh

Following the tragic deaths of six individuals during protests over quotas in government jobs, schools and universities in Bangladesh have been temporarily closed until further notice.

University students have been organizing and participating in rallies for several days now, expressing their opposition to the practice of reserving specific public sector jobs for the relatives of war heroes who fought for the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Job opportunities are designated for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

Approximately one-third of posts are reserved for the family members of individuals classified as war heroes. The students are making a solid case against the system, claiming it is discriminatory.

They are advocating for a recruitment process that is solely based on merit.

Clashes erupted in several cities this week, including the capital Dhaka, as supporters of the anti-quota movement clashed with their opponents, particularly the student wing of the governing Awami League, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

Violent clashes erupted between student groups, resulting in the use of bricks and sticks as weapons. Law enforcement authorities deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the groups involved in the confrontation. According to student activists, many individuals have been harmed in the attacks.

The responsibility for the violence is being placed on the BCL members. The protesters were killed. According to Abdullah Shaleheen Oyon, a co-ordinator of the anti-quota movement, the police failed to intervene and protect the ordinary students, as reported by the TGE.

Government jobs in Bangladesh are highly sought after due to their competitive salaries. Over half of the positions, totaling hundreds of thousands of jobs, are designated for specific groups.

According to critics, the system is believed to provide an unfair advantage to the families of pro-government groups aligned with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her recent victory in the fourth consecutive election held in January.

In 2018, the reservation was abolished by Prime Minister Hasina's government in response to widespread protests. In early June, a court ruling compelled the authorities to reinstate the quotas, which sparked a fresh wave of protests.

According to officials, a tragic incident occurred in the southern port city of Chittagong, resulting in the loss of three lives. Similarly, two individuals lost their lives in Dhaka. Additionally, a student in the northern town of Rangpur tragically lost their life due to a stray bullet.

According to media reports, it has been stated that three of the individuals who lost their lives were students. However, it is essential to note that there has been no official confirmation regarding this information.

Opposition groups are being held responsible for the violence, according to the government.

The anti-quota movement has been infiltrated by student members of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP]. According to Law Minister Anisul Huq, they were the ones who started the violence, as he informed the TGE.

The top court suspended the current system in Bangladesh last week, but protests are anticipated to persist until a permanent removal is achieved.

The hearing for the case has been scheduled for August 7th. According to Mr. Huq, students can present their arguments in court.

Following the violent clashes, the police conducted a late-night operation on Tuesday, raiding the headquarters of the BNP, which is the main opposition party in Dhaka.

According to senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the recent raid was dismissed as a mere spectacle to send a message to the students to go back home.

Students have taken to the streets in Dhaka and other major cities, effectively paralyzing traffic with their protests.

Student leaders expressed their anger towards recent comments made by Ms Hasina, claiming that she referred to those against job quotas as razakar - a term associated with individuals who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war.

According to several student leaders, Ms Hasina's remarks comparing them to razakar were seen as insulting. According to sources, the comparison allegedly fueled BCL members' aggression towards them.

There are concerns that some individuals attempt to stifle freedom of expression by instilling fear and intimidation within the nation. Protesting today is crucial to avoid future harm. "I am out on the streets to protest," said Rupaiya Sherstha, a female student at Dhaka University.

Government ministers have responded to Ms Hasina's comments, stating that they believe her words were misinterpreted and that she did not refer to the students as razakar.

Mohammad Ali Arafat, the state minister for information and broadcasting, refuted the accusations that the student wing of the Awami League was responsible for inciting the violence.

According to reports, the situation escalated when a group of students opposing quotas allegedly harassed the residents of a hall in Dhaka.

Having chaos on university campuses does not benefit the government. Mr. Arafat expressed his desire for peace to be maintained in his statement.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has urged the government to ensure the safety of the demonstrators and shield them from any potential harm or violence, as stated by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

The students are determined to persist with their protests until their demands are fulfilled.

To bolster security, the government has deployed the paramilitary force, Border Guards Bangladesh, in five major cities, including Dhaka and Chittagong.