Bangladesh News: Bangladesh has witnessed massive protests against the controversial quota system in government jobs, leaving at least six people dead and over 400 injured. The protests began after the Bangladesh High Court’s June 5 verdict restoring the 30% quota in government jobs for freedom fighters and their descendants, which was revoked in 2018 following a massive agitation led by students and teachers.
India advises its citizens to stay home
India has asked Indian community members and students living in Bangladesh to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel, as massive anti-reservation protests rocked the country, leading to clashes between protesters and police.
In the advisory, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said, “Given the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, members of the Indian community and Indian students residing in Bangladesh are advised to avoid travel and minimise movement outside their living premises.”
Bangladeshi students peacefully protesting the quota. but the “Student League” an organization of the government, ambushed them. Nearly 200 people were injured, and many were killed.
Help us!#Bangladesh#SaveBangladeshiStudents#bangladesh_quotha_movement #WE_NEED_YOUR_HELP pic.twitter.com/bGHOzEVeye
— Rifat Ahmed (@rifat_xyz) July 16, 2024
The Indian Embassy has also advised all Indian nationals in Bangladesh to follow the travel advisory and seek help from the High Commission or Assistant High Commissions in case of need of immediate assistance.
As the protests intensified and given the volatile situation, the Indian Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna have also set up 24-hour emergency contact numbers for Indian nationals and students requiring assistance.
-Indian High Commission, Dhaka: 880-1937400591 (on WhatsApp)
-Indian Assistant High Commission, Chittagong: 880-1814654797 / 880-1814654799 (on WhatsApp)
-Indian Assistant High Commission, Sylhet: 880-1313076411 (on WhatsApp)
-Indian Assistant High Commission, Khulna: 880-1812817799 (on WhatsApp)
At the heart of the protests is a demand for reform of the country’s quota system for civil service posts, which protesters claim benefits certain groups, including descendants of those who participated in the 1971 independence war against Pakistan. The Bangladeshi quota system reserves 30 percent of jobs for family members of freedom fighters.
What fuelled the anti-quota protests? Anti-reservation protests in Bangladesh began last month after the high court overturned a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to scrap the quota system and reintroduce it in June 2024.
The Supreme Court suspended the high court order after the Bangladesh government challenged it and set a new date of August 7 to hear the case.
The protests flared up when students clashed with members of the student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party. Protesters claim the quota system is likely to favour Awami League supporters, who led the independence movement.
Six people have died and hundreds injured since the start of the protests; police fired rubber bullets, hurled sound grenades and fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters.
(with agency input)