• Violent Crackdown: Protests over job quotas in Bangladesh led to over 400 deaths and mass arrests.
• Calls for Change: Protesters and human rights groups demand government accountability and reforms.
Bangladesh is in the midst of its most violent unrest in decades. Student protests against a controversial job quota system have spiralled into a national crisis, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government facing fierce criticism for its brutal response.
Over 400 people have been killed, more than 2,000 arrested, and widespread internet blackouts and curfews have led many to describe the situation as a dictatorship and a police state.
The protests erupted following a court ruling reinstating a quota system that reserves a significant percentage of government jobs for descendants of 1971 war veterans—a policy seen by many as benefiting allies of the ruling Awami League party. Initially dismissive, Hasina’s tearful visits to vandalised infrastructure were widely perceived as insincere, focusing on property damage while ignoring the tragic loss of lives and the legitimate grievances of the protesters.
Hasina’s display of emotion during her visit to the vandalised metro station was seen by many as a performance of crocodile tears, focusing on the destruction of infrastructure rather than the tragic loss of lives. Her remarks about the damage ignored the pain and suffering of the victims’ families, further alienating her from the grieving populace.
Critics argue that Hasina’s actions dishonour the legacy of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who fought for Bangladesh’s independence. They accuse her of using his image to justify acts of repression, tarnishing his ideals. The absence of independent oversight in elections and the lack of a credible opposition further amplify the outcry against her leadership.
International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the use of unlawful force and called for independent investigations. Amnesty has urged the government to lift restrictions, including shoot-on-sight orders and internet blackouts, and to restore full access to information. The government’s oversight in using UN-marked vehicles during the crackdown added to the controversy, causing further mistrust.
The situation has also had international ramifications. In the UAE, Bangladeshi protesters were met with severe crackdowns, resulting in harsh sentences and deportations. Emirati authorities justified these measures as necessary for maintaining national security.
As student leaders and protest groups continue to demand justice, the call for accountability grows louder. They seek the resignation of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Law Minister Anisul Huq, emphasising that the government’s actions have left a deep scar on the nation. The protesters also demand the sacking of police officers involved in the violence and the designation of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as a terrorist organisation, prohibiting it from continuing its activities. The students are calling for the establishment of a transparent, merit-based recruitment process for government jobs. Additionally, they demand the release of all detained protesters.
Reports have surfaced that protesters are still being kidnapped and tortured for details about the protests, adding another layer of horror to the already grim situation. These actions have intensified the outcry from both national and international communities, who demand immediate cessation of such practices and accountability for those responsible.
This crisis marks one of the biggest challenges of Hasina’s tenure, testing her government’s stability and the resilience of Bangladesh’s democracy. As the world watches, the hope remains for a peaceful resolution that addresses the root causes of the protests while restoring order and upholding human rights. The future of Bangladesh’s democracy hangs in the balance, with the international community keenly observing how the government will navigate this period of unprecedented turmoil.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Mohammad Arafat defended Bangladesh’s security forces, asserting they had done everything possible to restore peace amid the student protests. He accused “third-party” actors, including “extremists and terrorists,” of inciting the unrest, clarifying that the government did not view the protesting students as terrorists. Arafat emphasized that these external elements had infiltrated the movement, escalated tensions and attempting to destabilise the government for their own gain.
However, the public have lambasted Arafat for being vague in such a critical situation, arguing that his remarks reflect poorly on a government making excuses for a sham democracy. In a matter of life and death, such ambiguity from a government minister is seen as disgraceful and evasive, failing to address the dire realities faced by the nation. The anger among the public is very visceral, as people feel betrayed and frustrated by a government that prioritises its own survival over the lives of its citizens.
If the government had maintained the 2018 quota system and refrained from violent crackdowns, it could have preserved its dignity. Instead, it chose to prioritise its ego over the lives of the people it is meant to serve and protect. It would do wonders for leaders and governments worldwide to remember that they are but servants of their people and not tyrants or pharaohs.
