Bangladesh and the United States, two nations that have witnessed violent campus protests, have exchanged criticism over how to handle demonstrations within their respective countries. On Wednesday, the US urged Bangladesh to uphold the “right to peaceful protests,” echoing similar statements made by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during pro-Palestine protests in America.
Currently, Bangladesh is facing violent protests against the government’s job quota system. To quell the demonstrations, law enforcement has resorted to tear gas and rubber bullets, leading to at least six deaths and numerous injuries. In response to the unrest, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the “violence against peaceful protesters,” highlighting the US’ concern over the situation.
“We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. We’ve been watching this matter very closely, both from our embassy and officials here in Washington. (We) have been monitoring the protests, and have seen the reports of people dying, or being killed in the protests,” Miller said. “And we again, call on the government to uphold individual’s rights to protest peacefully,” he added.
These comments resonate with similar criticisms made by Prime Minister Hasina in the past. In May, during a visit to Thailand, Hasina questioned the US’ treatment of pro-Palestine protesters who staged demonstrations across the country. “The biggest thing is that 900 students and teachers have been arrested for staging pro-Palestinian demonstrations. It has happened in the US… it’s a part of (US) democracy, and we have to hear that too,” Hasina stated. She further asserted, “It is a real misfortune to listen to lectures on human rights from the US. Incidents of shootings are happening in schools, shopping malls, and restaurants and people are dying. It seems that there is not one day that people are not killed in America.”
The protests in Bangladesh stem from the government’s job quota system, which proposes a 30 percent reservation for family members of fighters from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan. The quotas have ignited anger among students who face high youth unemployment rates. Data indicates that nearly 32 million young Bangladeshis are neither employed nor in education, adding fuel to the fire of discontent.
The recent exchange of criticism over campus protests underscores the ongoing tensions between Bangladesh and the US, which reached a peak during Bangladesh’s General elections. The election became contentious after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, boycotted the polls, alleging unfair practices under Hasina’s administration. Following Hasina’s victory, the US declared the elections “not free and fair,” citing the arrests of thousands of opposition members and reports of election day irregularities.
“The United States remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on election day,” the US State Department stated. “The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated,” Washington added.
The US’ skepticism regarding the elections predates the actual voting process, further fueling tensions. Hasina, on the other hand, has attempted to mitigate the pressure, which many attribute to her close ties with China. These recent exchanges highlight the strained US-Bangladesh relationship, with the current situation serving as yet another point of contention.
