Violent Clashes and Information Blackouts Intensify Amid Protests Against Bangladesh’s Quota System

by Cecilia Russell (united nations)
​Friday, July 19, 2024 Inter Press Service

The epicenter of these demonstrations, Dhaka, along with the northern city of Rangpur, has witnessed a continuous stream of university students pouring onto the streets. These protests, according to AFP reports, have tragically culminated in a death toll that has now soared to 105 individuals. At the heart of the contention is Bangladesh’s government’s recruitment policy, particularly the contentious quota system governing civil service appointments.

The employment mechanism in question earmarks 56 percent of positions within the civil sector for specific demographics: 10 percent for women, an equivalent percentage for applicants from underdeveloped districts, 5 percent for indigenous communities, 1 percent for individuals with disabilities, and a substantial 30 percent allocated to veterans of the 1971 liberation war and their progeny.

In a significant judicial development, Bangladesh’s High Court decreed the reinstatement of the job reservation for liberation war descendants, a statute previously nullified in 2018 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This policy revocation triggered a massive outcry among the nation’s students and the younger workforce, contesting that the quota system served as a vehicle for preferential treatment, disproportionately benefitting affiliates of the governing Awami League party.

This dissent culminated in a rallying cry for a comprehensive overhaul of the employment quota mechanism. With youth unemployment figures staggering at 40 percent among those neither employed nor engaged in educational pursuits, the urgency for systemic reform has never been more palpable.

The boiling point was reached when, on July 14, Prime Minister Hasina indirectly branded the protestors as “razakars”— a loaded term invoking notions of betrayal and collusion with Pakistani forces during the 1971 war of independence. This incendiary labeling served only to inflame tensions, propelling the student populace into further demonstrations vehemently expressing their grievances.

The subsequent days witnessed a marked escalation in violence, with July 15 being particularly egregious as protestors came under assault from Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) members. The BCL, known for its close affiliation with the Awami League, reportedly launched unprovoked attacks on demonstrators, sparing neither women nor younger students. This incitement prompted the government to mandate a nationwide shutdown of academic campuses, attempting to quell the unrest.

The intensity of the clashes has since prompted state intervention, including deployments of the police force equipped with rubber bullets and tear gas. The unrest has not been confined to Dhakar alone; cities such as Chittagong and Rangpur have also been ensnared in the upheaval.

In a significant escalatory step, the government commissioned the deployment of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) into the fray. Reports citing the aftermath of these engagements reveal a harrowing toll, with at least 105 lives lost and upwards of 25,000 individuals sustaining injuries—a figure that hints at the possibility of an even higher casualty count.

The unrest has had far-reaching implications beyond the immediacy of human casualties and physical injuries. July 18 marked the commencement of a comprehensive blackout affecting internet and telecommunication services, initially instated in select areas and subsequently expanded to a nationwide protocol. This aggressive measure has effectively severed the digital lifeline of major news outlets, including the Daily Star and Bangladesh, rendering them inaccessible to the public sphere. In a remarkable show of defiance, hackers targeted the BCL’s official platform, embedding it with a provocative “Hacked by THE R3SISTANC3” banner. Government websites, including those of the police and the Prime Minister’s office, suffered similar breaches.

Amidst the turmoil, the government extended an olive branch, signaling its readiness to engage in dialogues aimed at addressing the protestors’ demands concerning the quota system. Law Minister Anisul Haq delineated the government’s position, underscoring its willingness to initiate discussions at the protestors’ behest. However, the overture has been met with skepticism by the student body, with a representative voicing their reservations to the BBC, citing the egregious loss of life as a barrier to constructive dialogue.

The United Nations, through the vocal apprehensions of High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has expressed grave concerns over the unfolding crisis. Both figures have advocated for the imperative of restraint, urging for comprehensive investigations into the acts of violence, accountability for perpetrators, and the fostering of an environment conducive to open and constructive dialogue.

In the latest developments, protestors and governmental authorities remain at a standoff, with the former persistently demanding tangible reforms and the latter grappling with the ensuing crisis. The international community watches closely, hopeful for a resolution that bridges the chasm between the aspirations of Bangladesh’s youth and the imperatives of national governance.

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