Violent protests have erupted across Bangladesh, leaving at least six people dead and scores injured, as students clash with government supporters and police over a controversial job quota system. The unrest, which began on Monday, marks the first significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government since her re-election in January.
Tens of thousands of students have taken to the streets nationwide, demanding reform of the public sector job quota system. The current system reserves 30% of government positions for descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence, a policy that has sparked anger among youth facing high unemployment rates.
In response to the escalating violence, authorities have ordered the indefinite closure of all public and private universities starting Wednesday. The University Grants Commission cited security concerns in its directive, which also instructs students to vacate campus premises immediately.
Police reported fatalities in multiple locations, including Rangpur, Dhaka, and Chittagong. “We had to use rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the unruly students who were hurling stones at us,” said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner. In the capital, television footage showed a heavy police presence outside Dhaka University, with officers in riot gear armed with wooden sticks.
Protests in Bangladesh
The Border Guard Bangladesh paramilitary force has been deployed nationwide to bolster security as clashes continue in several areas. Amnesty International has called on the government to “immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters and proper treatment of all those injured.”
The protests have taken a political turn, with police raiding the headquarters of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka, arresting seven activists. Authorities claim to have recovered crude bombs and petrol during the raid, an allegation the BNP denies as an attempt to discredit the anti-quota movement.
These demonstrations highlight the growing frustration among Bangladesh’s youth, with nearly 32 million young people out of work or education in a population of 170 million. Experts point to stagnant private sector job growth as a key factor driving the demand for government positions, which offer better job security and benefits.
As tensions continue to rise, protest coordinator Nahid Islam announced plans for students to hold processions on Wednesday carrying coffins in solidarity with those who lost their lives. The government’s response to these protests and its handling of the quota system debate will likely have significant implications for Bangladesh’s political landscape in the coming weeks.