बांग्लादेश में राष्ट्रीय शोक आज: धार्मिक स्थलों में प्रार्थना की जाएगी, सरकार ने माना प्रदर्शन में 150 लोगों की मौत हुई

Following violent protests, the Bangladesh Supreme Court on July 21 overturned the Dhaka High Court’s decision to grant 56% reservation in government jobs. (File photo)

Today will be a day of national mourning for those killed in the violent protests in Bangladesh. The government on Monday admitted for the first time that 150 people have died in the protests against reservation in government jobs. Top bureaucrats said that Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has confirmed this in a meeting. However, according to a report by news agency AFP, more than 200 people have been killed in the violence so far.

The decision to observe national mourning was taken at a meeting chaired by PM Sheikh Hasina in the Prime Minister’s Office. Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hussain said mosques, temples and churches across the country have been asked to hold prayer meetings for the deceased.

Protests took place in Bangladesh against the Supreme Court’s order to restore reservation in government jobs.

Internet was restored on Sunday after 11 days
Mobile internet services were restored in Bangladesh on Sunday after 11 days. The government had shut down the internet on July 18 following protests. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak said the decision to shut down the internet was taken to prevent rumours, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

Hasina started crying when the protesters set the metro on fire
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on Thursday visited Mirpur-10 metro station to see the damage caused after violent anti-reservation protests. During this, Sheikh Hasina broke down in tears after seeing the vandalism in the metro station. Sheikh Hasina was seen wiping her tears with tissue paper.

Seeing the condition of the metro station, Hasina said that how can someone vandalize a system built for the convenience of the common people. What kind of mentality makes them do such things. The PM further said that Dhaka city used to be troubled by traffic jams. When the metro was built, people got relief but now it has been ruined. I cannot tolerate this.

People’s anger flared up again due to this statement of hers. Sheikh Hasina’s crying picture is going viral on social media in which she is being trolled.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the metro station on Thursday to inspect it. It was burnt down by protesters.

Protesters took to the streets to protest against reservation in jobs
The Bangladesh government had abolished 56% reservation for different categories in 2018, but on June 5 this year, the High Court overturned the government’s decision and re-implemented the reservation. After this, a period of violence started in Bangladesh. After the situation worsened, the government imposed curfew across the country and ordered to shoot the protesters at sight. To control the situation, the army was deployed instead of the police.

Supreme Court changed the reservation
On July 21, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh overturned the Dhaka High Court’s decision to provide 56% reservation in government jobs. The court issued an order on Sunday, reducing the reservation from 56% to 7%. Out of this, families of freedom fighters will get 5% reservation which was 30% earlier. The remaining 2% will include ethnic minorities, transgenders and disabled people. The Supreme Court said that 93% of the jobs will be given on the basis of merit.

How was the reservation system in Bangladesh
Bangladesh became independent in 1971. According to a report in the Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, an 80% quota system was implemented there from this year. In this, 30% reservation was given in jobs to the children of freedom fighters, 40% to backward districts, 10% to women. Only 20% seats were kept for general students.

In 1976, the reservation for backward districts was increased to 20%. This gave 40% seats to general students. In 1985, the reservation for backward districts was further reduced to 10% and a 5% quota for minorities was added. This gave 45% seats to general students.

Initially, only the sons and daughters of freedom fighters were given reservation, but from 2009, grandchildren were also included in it. In 2012, 1% quota was also added for disabled students. This increased the total quota to 56%.