By Britney Martil
In a dramatic escalation of unrest, Bangladeshi students have targeted the state broadcaster, Bangladesh Television (BTV), setting fire to its reception building and numerous vehicles parked outside.
This violence signifies a significant intensification of the ongoing protests against the country’s civil service hiring rules, with the death toll now reaching at least 39. The crisis has prompted authorities to impose what outage monitor NetBlocks has described as a “near-total” internet blackout, following previous efforts to throttle social media and restrict mobile data services, which were critical tools for protest organization and communication.
The protests, which have persisted for weeks, center on a quota system that reserves a substantial portion of civil service jobs for specific groups, including the descendants of veterans from the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. Critics argue that the system disproportionately benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League party, which has been in power since 2009. This unrest reflects broader dissatisfaction with Hasina’s autocratic rule and the perceived misuse of State institutions to entrench her administration and suppress dissent.
Prime Minister Hasina’s attempt to address the situation in a national address the previous day failed to alleviate the protesters’ demands. Despite her call for calm, the protesters’ grievances remain unmet. Demonstrators have demanded that the prime minister issue an apology and seek justice for those killed in the unrest. The ongoing violence underscores the severity of the situation and the deepening political and social rifts in the country.
Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh expert at the University of Oslo, described the protests as an expression of broader discontent with Hasina’s regime. He highlighted that the students’ opposition reflects a broader dissatisfaction with what they view as repressive governance. “They are protesting against the repressive nature of the state,” Hasan noted.
“The students are, in fact, calling her a dictator.”
This sentiment has been exacerbated by the government’s recent decision to indefinitely close schools and universities in an effort to restore order, further indicating the gravity of the crisis.
The unrest has emerged against a backdrop of rising inflation and economic discontent, further exacerbated by global disruptions such as the war in Ukraine. While Hasina’s leadership is credited with stable economic growth, inflation has led to increased labor unrest and growing dissatisfaction. Government jobs, highly sought after for their stability and benefits, have become a flashpoint of frustration among the youth, with approximately 400,000 graduates competing annually for just 3,000 civil service positions. This severe competition has intensified the frustrations driving the protests.
In response to the escalating demonstrations, the Bangladeshi government enacted a broad communications blackout on Thursday night. Mobile internet services were suspended, and access to social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, was restricted to curb the spread of disinformation and rumors. This measure has further isolated protest organizers and exacerbated the crisis by limiting access to local news and international developments.
The situation has led to widespread violent clashes between protesters and heavily armed riot police. Law enforcement has used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, who have retaliated with batons and bricks. The violence has resulted in thousands of injuries and numerous vehicles set ablaze. Tragically, the Dhaka Times reported the death of one of its journalists, Mehedi Hasan, who was killed while covering the clashes in the capital.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party, has expressed support for the protesting students and is expected to organize additional demonstrations. In contrast, the Awami League has accused the BNP of inciting violence, leading to raids on BNP headquarters and the arrest of activists affiliated with the party’s student wing. This confrontation has further intensified the political and social turmoil in the country.
In an attempt to address the contentious issue, the Supreme Court has suspended a recent High Court ruling that reinstated the job quotas, pending an appeal hearing scheduled for Sunday. This judicial intervention has introduced a temporary reprieve in the ongoing conflict, and Prime Minister Hasina has urged protesters to await the court’s decision, expressing confidence that the judiciary will deliver justice.
Saad Hammadi, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Canada-based Balsillie School of International Affairs, has voiced serious concern over the government’s handling of the protests. He described the unfolding situation as “deeply unsettling” and criticized the government’s response as indicative of “lack of farsightedness and inefficient policy governance.” Hammadi also emphasized the detrimental impact of the internet shutdown, which has further exacerbated the crisis by limiting access to essential information and isolating the public from broader developments.
As Bangladesh navigates this tumultuous period, the combined effects of political discontent, economic frustration, and severe government measures highlight the urgent need for a resolution to the crisis. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the Supreme Court’s intervention will bring about a resolution or if the unrest will continue to escalate.
In solidarity, intellectuals, academics, and students in West Bengal have risen to support the Bangladeshi students. Protests have been organized by leftist organizations and students of Visva-Bharati University, with marches held in Santiniketan, Kolkata, and other parts of the state. Social media is abuzz with strong voices condemning the deaths of protesters in Bangladesh and urging the government to heed the students’ demands.
“Bangladesh has its own laws regarding admission, but whatever the condition and controversy may be, the government must listen to students and discuss with the students. This kind of violence unleashed on the students and state-sponsored killing of students needs to be condemned from all quarters. Under no circumstances can students be killed. One has to recognize that students will be future makers of the country,” said Ishita Mukhopadhyay, Professor of Economics at the University of Calcutta.
Writer Amar Mitra emphasized the duty of sensible young people to protest against perceived injustices and the government’s responsibility to engage with them constructively. He highlighted the historical significance of student protests in West Bengal and expressed admiration for the courage of the Bangladeshi students standing up against repression.
Chitra Agarwal, a Ph.D. student at Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, warned against similar crackdowns on protesting students in India, drawing parallels with the Tiananmen Square massacre and India’s own history of student uprisings.
Maitrayee Paul, a West Bengal government employee and Visva-Bharati alumna, criticized the Bangladesh government’s handling of the situation. She argued that early dialogue with the students could have prevented the escalation of violence and called for reforms to ensure fairer job allocation without discriminating against any group.
The Bangladeshi protesters are primarily demanding the abolition or reduction of the quota system, including reservations for women. They seek a merit-based system to ensure fairness in civil service recruitment. While their demands are rooted in the quest for justice and equity, the feasibility and progressiveness of eliminating quotas, especially for historically marginalized groups, remain complex and contentious, requiring careful consideration.
Britney Martil is a law student at the Kotelawala Defence University.
Factum is an Asia-Pacific focused think tank on International Relations, Tech Cooperation, Strategic Communications, and Climate Outreach accessible via www.factum.lk.
The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the organization’s.
