Violent protests by students demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs continue in Bangladesh. More than 105 people have been killed so far in the violent clashes that began across the country a few weeks ago. The Sheikh Hasina-led government has decided to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy the army to control the worrying law and order situation. Student protesters roaming the streets with sticks, rods and stones are setting buses and private vehicles on fire. So far, more than 2500 protesters have been injured in clashes with police and security forces. Mobile internet service has been shut down in the country.
India has described these violent protests as an internal matter of Bangladesh. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in his weekly media briefing that 15000 Indians living in the neighboring country are safe, including around 8500 students. He said that the Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring the situation. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka is coordinating with local authorities to provide adequate security to Indian students wishing to return to the country. As of 8 pm on Friday, 245 Indians, including 125 students, have returned from Bangladesh.
The Indian High Commission has also helped in the return of 13 Nepali students. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, ‘As you know, protests are going on in Bangladesh. We consider it an internal matter of the country. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar himself is closely monitoring the matter in terms of the security of Indians.’ Benapole-Petrapole; Gede-Darshana on the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal and Akhaura-Agartala crossings in Tripura will remain open for the return of students and Indian citizens. The Indian High Commission is facilitating the return of Indian students from Bangladesh in coordination with the BSF and the Bureau of Immigration.
The situation in Bangladesh deteriorated this week as protests demanding an end to job reservations flared up, forcing authorities to shut down bus and train services and schools and universities across the country. The student-led protests in Bangladesh are primarily against the Sheikh Hasina-led government’s job quota system, which reserves a significant portion of government jobs for certain groups. The protesting students argue that the quota system is discriminatory and prevents meritorious candidates from getting government positions.
Under Bangladesh’s current quota system, there is a provision for 56 percent reservation in government jobs, out of which 30 percent alone is reserved for the descendants of freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War with Pakistan. Apart from this, 10 percent quota is reserved for backward administrative districts, 10 percent for women, 5 percent for ethnic minority groups and 1 percent for disabled people. The students are protesting against the 30 percent reservation given to the descendants of freedom fighters.
Such is the reservation system in Bangladesh
1. Children of freedom fighters get 30% reservation in government jobs.
2. There is also a provision of 10 percent reservation for women in Bangladesh.
3. Apart from this, 10 percent reservation is fixed for different districts.
4. There is a 6% quota for ethnic minorities like Santhal, Pankho, Tripuri, Chakma, Khasi and disabled persons.
5. The total of all these reservations is 56%. Apart from this, the remaining 44% is kept for merit.
Despite the rise in job opportunities in the private sector in Bangladesh, government jobs are the first choice of the youth for stability and better facilities. However, there are not enough jobs in the government sector to meet the demand. Around 400,000 graduates compete for 3,000 civil service jobs annually in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Hasina has supported the quota system, arguing that freedom fighters contributed to the liberation war regardless of political and ideological commitments and for this they and their descendants deserve utmost respect.
The court overturned the decision of Hasina government
There has been uproar on this issue earlier as well. In 2018, the Hasina government suspended the 30 percent quota system in government jobs for the descendants of freedom fighters after similar fierce protests. This decision of the government was challenged in the High Court by the descendants of freedom fighters. The High Court last month overturned the 2018 decision of the Hasina government and restored the quota for the descendants of those who contributed to the 1971 Liberation War. Fierce and violent protests have been going on in Bangladesh since July 1 in protest against this decision of the court.
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