Bangladesh government has declared a nationwide curfew and deployed the army to quell intense protests that have resulted in the deaths of at least 67 people. The protests, which erupted over the weekend, were sparked by students demanding the abolition of a controversial quota system that reserves a significant portion of public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans of the country’s 1971 Liberation War.
The unrest began with peaceful demonstrations but has rapidly intensified. The UN has condemned the violent crackdown on protesters as “shocking and unacceptable.” According to a spokesperson for the Bangladesh police, approximately 300 officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators across multiple locations in the capital, Dhaka, on Friday.
The protests were initially focused on the quota system, which allocates 30% of public sector jobs to families of freedom fighters. Critics argue that this quota disproportionately benefits supporters of the ruling party, exacerbating perceptions of nepotism and corruption. The situation was further inflamed by derogatory comments from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who dismissed the protesters with a term that many interpreted as an insult to the legacy of the Liberation War.
As violence has spread, including attacks by the ruling party’s student wing, police forces, Border Guards, and the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), internet access has been cut off for over 24 hours, hindering communication and information flow.
Nami Hussein, a professor of development studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, provides insight into the broader context of the unrest. Hussein explains that the immediate trigger for the protests is the demand for reform of the quota system, but the unrest reflects deeper dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the country’s economic and political crises.
“After a period of economic growth, Bangladesh is now facing a cost-of-living crisis with high inflation and rising unemployment. This unrest occurs in a political environment increasingly marked by authoritarianism, with recent elections criticized for lacking fairness,” Hussein says. “The protests have evolved beyond the quota issue to encompass broader demands for accountability, justice, and significant political reform.”
Despite widespread public support for the protesters, Hussein suggests that a change in government or the resignation of the Prime Minister is unlikely in the immediate future. The violence and the government’s heavy-handed response have significantly eroded its legitimacy. “The government has lost what little legitimacy it had left,” Hussein concludes. “The protests have uncovered deep-seated frustrations with the current regime and its failure to address the needs and grievances of its people.”
As the situation remains fluid, the international community continues to monitor the developments with growing concern.
