Bangladesh Erupts in Unrest as Court Ruling Falls Short of Protest Demands

Image Source: Anti-quota protesters clash with the police in Dhaka on July 18, 2024. (Photo by AFP)(AFP)

Published by Everything ZA News

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh reels from a week of violent clashes between police and student protesters, sparked by a contentious civil service hiring policy. The unrest, which has claimed over 150 lives, shows no signs of abating after the Supreme Court’s verdict fell short of complete abolition of the quota system, a key demand of the demonstrators.

The controversy centers around a recently reintroduced scheme reserving more than half of government jobs for specific categories, including children of “freedom fighters” who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Liberation. This quota has been a point of contention for young graduates, who view it as a system stacked in favor of the ruling Awami League party and a barrier to meritocratic hiring.

Protests erupted earlier this month, escalating into nationwide demonstrations that met with a harsh crackdown by security forces. The government imposed a nationwide internet blackout, further restricting information flow, and arrested members of the opposition and student groups leading the protests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration has also been accused of manipulating the judiciary, as she had previously hinted at a court ruling favorable to the students’ demands.

The court’s decision partially addressed the issue by reducing reserved jobs from 56% to 7%. While quotas for people with disabilities, tribal communities, and a new category for third-gender individuals were introduced, the controversial “freedom fighter” quota remains, albeit at a reduced rate of 5%. This has left many protesters unsatisfied, with their demands now shifting towards the complete resignation of the government.

The situation is further complicated by Bangladesh’s dire youth unemployment crisis. With millions out of work, the quota system fuels resentment among graduates struggling to find opportunities. Prime Minister Hasina’s inflammatory rhetoric, likening protesters to collaborators with Pakistan during the war, has further inflamed tensions.

International observers, including the Crisis Group, have condemned the government’s heavy-handed response and urged them to address the protesters’ grievances directly. The United States has issued a travel warning for Bangladesh and begun evacuating some diplomatic personnel.

With the death toll rising and public anger at a boiling point, it remains unclear whether the court’s verdict will be enough to quell the unrest. The future of Bangladesh hangs in the balance, with the government facing growing pressure to find a solution that addresses both the concerns over the quota system and the yearning for democratic accountability.