Reasons for violence in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh last month, violence by student groups protesting against reserved quotas in government jobs left at least 300 people dead and thousands injured. What began as peaceful student protests in Bangladesh over the quota system in government jobs has turned into a significant challenge and revolt against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League party.
According to local media reports, after the violence in the country on Sunday, the protesters announced to march to the capital Dhaka on Monday, which resulted in many deaths in the violence, the army supported the protesters and took command in its hands. PM Hasina protested but when the situation became uncontrollable, she resigned from the post of PM and left the country with an army helicopter. After this, the army has imposed an indefinite ban in the country and has also announced the formation of an interim government. According to the information, Sheikh Hasina has reached India.
Is Pakistan, ISI behind the unrest in Bangladesh?
According to the Economic Times report, the student wing of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Chhatra Shibir, which is allegedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI, is behind the violence in the country and has turned the student protests in Bangladesh into a political movement. Sources said the Pakistan Army and the ISI aim to destabilise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government and restore the opposition BNP to power through protests and violence. However, the Hasina administration is keeping a close watch on the activities of opposition leaders.
Let us tell you that ISI’s efforts to undermine the Hasina government of Bangladesh are not new. The situation turned from student protests over job reservation into a widespread political movement, in which opposition party members have allegedly infiltrated protest groups and instigated violence. Additionally, the local government is investigating the involvement of Western-backed NGOs in the current crisis, sources said.
Why was there a protest against Sheikh Hasina?
Mass protests in Bangladesh began as student demonstrations demanding reform of the civil service quota system. Students argued that existing quotas unfairly benefited loyalists of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party, the Awami League. Student protests grew as protesters expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the government, which they accused of autocratic practices and suppressing dissent. The government’s response, including the closure of schools and universities, failed to quell the unrest.
The Supreme Court’s ruling against reintroducing job quotas did not fully satisfy the protesters, who continued to demand the abolition of all job reservations for the children of “freedom fighters”. The situation worsened when former army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan criticised the government’s handling of the protests and called for the withdrawal of the army. This, combined with the current army chief’s supportive stance towards the protesters, has further fuelled the unrest.
Violence in Bangladesh, know the complete timeline
On July 1, university students began blockading roads and railway lines to demand a reform of the quota system for public sector jobs. They claimed the scheme favoured loyalists of Hasina’s ruling Awami League. Despite winning a fifth term in January, Hasina dismissed the protests and said the students were “wasting their time.”
Violence escalated with the first recorded deaths of six people after clashes between protesters and government supporters in Dhaka on July 16. Hasina’s government ordered the closure of schools and universities across the country and the violence then escalated.
Protests escalated on 18 July—students rejected Hasina’s appeal for peace and began demanding her resignation. Protesters chanted “Down with dictator” and set fire to the headquarters of Bangladesh Television along with other government buildings. The government banned the internet to prevent unrest. At least 32 people were killed and hundreds injured in the clashes despite curfews and deployment of troops.
On 21 July, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court ruled against reintroducing job quotas. The decision was seen by critics as a nod to Hasina’s government. However, the verdict did not satisfy protesters’ demands to end job reservations for children of “freedom fighters” from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.
The protests for reform of the quota system came to a halt after the Supreme Court cancelled most of the quotas on July 21. However, protesters were demanding a public apology from Hasina for the violence last week, restoration of internet connection, reopening of college and university campuses and the release of those who were arrested.
On August 4, the army sided with the protesters and on Sunday, thousands of people clashed again with government supporters, resulting in the deaths of 68 people, including 14 police officers. Former army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to withdraw the army and condemned the killings. Current army chief Vaqar-uz-Zaman said the army “always stands with the people.”
The students’ group called for a nationwide non-cooperation movement starting from Sunday with a one-point agenda that PM Sheikh Hasina must resign.
Hasina had said- these are not students, they are terrorists
Hasina, 76, and her government initially said students were not involved in the violence during the quota protests and blamed the Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the clashes and arson. But after violence flared up again on Sunday, Hasina said “those who are committing violence are not students but terrorists who want to destabilise the country.”
Hasina had won the election in January itself
Hasina retained power after winning a fourth consecutive term in January this year in a general election that was boycotted by the BNP, which accused her Awami League of trying to legitimise the sham polls.
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