19th July 2024. Dhaka
Over 50 people were killed in Bangladesh during student protests against a 30% job quota for freedom fighters and their descendants. On Friday, four people died when police fired at protesters. The previous day, 27 people died, and more than 1,500 were injured across 47 districts.
The protests began on June 1, increased after June 5, and escalated on July 15. As of Friday morning, the death toll had crossed 50. Dhaka banned gatherings, shut down internet and mobile services, and took news TV off the air. Several government websites were hacked.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement on July 14 equating protesters with descendants of 1971 collaborators added fuel to the fire. The 1971 conflict led to the death of up to 3 million Bangladeshis by the Pakistani military and its allies.
Economic issues like high inflation and unemployment are also driving the violence, according to analysts. On June 5, the High Court reinstated the 30% quota for freedom fighters, striking down a 2018 government decision to remove it. The 2018 removal was announced by Hasina before the national elections.
Students and teachers had been protesting since April for a cap on quotas at 10%. The government, agreeing with students, appealed to the Supreme Court, which suspended the High Court’s order. A hearing is set for August 7.
Article 29(1) of the 1972 Constitution states equal job opportunity for all citizens, but Article 29(3)(a) allows special provisions for backward sections to ensure adequate representation in public service.
The current reservation system, established in 1972, reserves 30% of posts for freedom fighters and 10% for women. Quotas were frozen after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination in 1975 and reactivated in 1996 under Hasina, Benefits extended to freedom fighters’ children in 2009 and grandchildren in 2011.
Bangladesh has a large young population, with 25% aged 15-29. Each year, 1.8 to 1.9 million youths enter the job market, but government job vacancies remain high. From 2019-2023, only 350,000 government jobs were filled, with over 500,000 positions still vacant.
Hasina questioned why protesters oppose the freedom fighters’ quota, implying they prefer benefits for “razakars” descendants. Razakars were a paramilitary force in 1971 aiding Pakistan’s control over East Pakistan and committed atrocities during the liberation war. The term “razakars” is still used derogatorily by the Awami League against critics and pro-Pakistan elements.