The protests in Bangladesh erupted after the government reinstated a controversial quota system for government jobs.
Governments must protect the rights and provide opportunities for all their citizens. The right to protest is a human right. I call on the government of #Bangladesh to correct course. Countries cannot live in the past! https://t.co/W6CZX6WfJS
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) July 19, 2024
The system reserved 56% of jobs for select categories, with 30% set aside for descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. Student protesters demanded reform, arguing the system was unfair.
Clashes between protesters and security forces turned deadly, with over 100 people killed. The government responded with force, shutting down the internet, deploying paramilitary troops, and declaring a curfew.
“I have never felt so helpless in my life… The internet is a basic human right now and we are deprived of that” https://t.co/zAehtN7pLL
— giulio quaggiotto (@gquaggiotto) July 22, 2024
On Sunday, the Supreme Court made a significant concession, slashing the 30% quota for freedom fighters’ descendants to 5% and other quotas to 2%.
This opens up 93% of jobs for all Bangladeshis. However, protesters refuse to end their movement until the government officially notifies these changes.
Bangladesh protests against job quotas
Jaishankar tracking Bangladesh protests ‘closely’, says MEA as concerns grow about safety of Indian students. @janusmyth reports https://t.co/GD8reJBEuc
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) July 20, 2024
They also demand justice for those killed in the clashes. The protests have evolved into a broader battle over identity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina questioned the protesters’ resentment, asking, “If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?” Razakars were a paramilitary force that supported the Pakistani military’s efforts to quell the liberation war and were accused of war crimes.
Students accused Hasina of trying to portray all critics as Razakars, adopting slogans like “Who are you? Who am I – Razakar, Razakar?” and “Asked for rights and became a Razakar.” The term Razakar is considered derogatory in Bangladesh, evoking memories of war crimes during the 1971 war. After Bangladesh’s creation, many Razakars faced violence, while others were promoted to senior government positions.
Hasina’s government established the International Crimes Tribunal in 2009 to prosecute those accused of committing genocide during the war. However, its procedures were criticized as flawed and politically motivated. The latest protests indicate that the legacy of the Razakars remains a significant and unresolved issue in Bangladesh, more than 50 years after the country gained independence.
