Tensions remain high in Bangladesh as student protesters continue their demonstrations despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s offer for dialogue. The protests, which have resulted in over 200 fatalities, center around a controversial quota system that reserves 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence.
Student leaders have rejected Hasina’s offer for talks, and protesters continue to occupy key streets in the capital, Dhaka. Witnesses report that students have blocked major roads, causing significant traffic disruptions. In response, authorities have deployed security forces to maintain a heightened presence in the city.
The quota system has sparked widespread outrage among students, who argue that it is discriminatory and unfair. They are demanding its abolition and the implementation of a merit-based system for government jobs. The protesters, frustrated by shortages of good jobs, believe the quota system benefits supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party, which led the independence movement.
The protests began on July 15th and have since been met with a heavy-handed response from authorities. The internet has been shut off, a shoot-on-sight curfew has been imposed, and schools and universities remain closed. Videos of deadly clashes between police and protesters, including the tragic case of a six-year-old girl shot while playing on a rooftop, have shocked the nation.
Hasina, 76, was elected for a fourth consecutive term in January in a vote boycotted by her main opponents, making her victory a near certainty even before votes were counted. The ongoing unrest adds to the political turmoil facing Bangladesh, where the government’s handling of the protests has been met with widespread criticism.
