The ongoing protests against Bangladesh’s government job quota system have taken a violent turn, with at least 25 people killed and thousands injured in clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
The protests, primarily led by university students, began in early July after the High Court reinstated a 30% quota for descendants of 1971 Liberation War veterans. This decision overturned a 2018 move by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to abolish the quota system.
Deadly Clashes in Dhaka
On Thursday, violence gripped the capital city of Dhaka as at least 18 more people were killed and over 2,500 injured in clashes. In the Uttara locality, four people were killed and over 1,000 injured during a clash with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). A 17-year-old student of the Dhaka Residential Model College was also killed, with pellet wounds found on his body.
Nationwide Unrest
The unrest has spread across Bangladesh, with protests reported in cities like Chattogram, Rangpur, and Cumilla. In Chattogram’s Bahaddarhat area, two people were killed and 50 others injured in clashes on Thursday evening.
Closures and Crackdowns
In response to the escalating violence, the government has taken several measures:
- All public and private universities, medical colleges, and other institutions have been ordered to shut down until further notice
- Secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges have also been closed for the safety of students
- Riot police and the Border Guard Bangladesh paramilitary force have been deployed to maintain law and order on campuses
- The police raided the headquarters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka, arresting seven activists
International Reactions
India’s High Commission in Dhaka has urged Indian citizens to avoid travel and minimize movement outside their living premises due to the violence. The US Embassy in Dhaka remained closed on Thursday and advised its citizens to avoid demonstrations and gatherings.
Amnesty International has called on the Bangladeshi government to immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters and ensure proper treatment for those injured.
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Calls for Patience
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the violence and urged students to remain patient until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the quota system on August 7. She has also labeled those opposing the quota as “razakar,” a term used for alleged collaborators with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war.
The protests are the first significant challenge to Hasina’s government since she secured a fourth consecutive term in January. Experts attribute the unrest to stagnant job growth in the private sector, making government jobs increasingly desirable.