Bangladesh protests initially began in July as a student-led movement against the government’s civil service quota system. The system reserved 30% of government jobs for veterans and their families with allocations for disabled individuals, transgender people and ethnic minorities.
The Supreme Court eventually reduced these quotas to 5% for veterans and 2% for other groups, but the protests persisted with demands extending beyond quota reform.
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As violence escalated, protestors shifted their focus to demand broader accountability for governmental actions including the use of excessive force against protestors.
The movement has grown into a wider anti-government campaign, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s resignation and challenging her 15-year rule.
On Sunday, August 4, 2024, violence peaked with at least 95 deaths reported. The military imposed a nationwide curfew affecting major cities like Dhaka and mobile internet access was cut to prevent further unrest.
Clashes between police and protesters occurred across multiple districts including Chattogram, Bogura and Rangpur.
Prime Minister Hasina labeled the protestors as criminals rather than students. Over 11,000 people have been detained including students and opposition supporters, as part of the government’s crackdown.
Authorities suspended mobile internet services and blocked access to social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to stifle communication among protestors.
Local and international media have been closely monitoring the situation with reports of violence, arrests and government statements.
Students remain steadfast in their demands for justice for those killed and injured, refusing to accept the government’s explanations.
The Students Against Discrimination group has urged citizens to participate in a civil disobedience campaign including refusing to pay taxes or utility bills.
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the banned Jamaat-e-Islami party have reportedly aligned with the protests.
Opposition parties have echoed the demand for Hasina’s resignation, viewing the protests as an opportunity to challenge the ruling Awami League party.
The UN has expressed concern over the violence, urging restraint and calling for dialogue. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk highlighted the need for the government to cease targeting peaceful protestors and restore internet access.
The immediate trigger for the protests is a contentious quota system for government jobs. This system, in place since 1972 and reinstated in 2018 after a brief abolition, reserves up to 30% of positions for the descendants of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.
Some say that this quota disproportionately benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party limiting opportunities for other qualified candidates.
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The protests began last month when students from Dhaka University, Bangladesh’s largest institution, took to the streets against this quota system.
Their demands for a merit-based recruitment process quickly gained support from various segments of society.
On August 4, 2024, the situation reached a critical point with at least 98 deaths and hundreds injured as police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.
This is one of the deadliest days in Bangladeshi history, surpassing the violence observed on July 19, when similar protests against the quota system resulted in 67 deaths.
The protests have evolved from student demonstrations into an anti-government movement. Clashes have spread nationwide, affecting various cities and districts beyond Dhaka.
Government offices, police stations and Awami League party offices have been targeted leading to property damage and casualties.
The Bangladeshi government has implemented an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm on August 4.
A three-day general holiday was also declared and internet services including high-speed 4G and social media platforms were shut down to control the flow of information and curb the protests.
The Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman was tasked with ensuring the protection of lives, property and state installations.
Clashes persisted and there were reports of the military confronting both protesters and pro-government militias.
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