Why Bangladeshi Students Are Protesting? Why Are They Mad At The Government?

Protests erupted after a Bangladesh High Court ruling to reinstate the contentious 30% quota in government jobs for ‘freedom fighters’ and their descendants.

[{"selector":"#anim-f83d5468-8701-4a43-9b8c-30e44de1e240 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(4.595629445855572%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Hundreds of university students in Dhaka and other cities have been holding rallies for weeks. Hundreds of university students in Dhaka and other cities have been holding rallies for weeks. Credit:NDTV

At least 32 people have been killed, and over 2,500 are injured Credit:NDTV Credit:NDTV

On Thursday, the protests took an even ugly turn as the demonstrating students set fire to the country's state broadcaster, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the network seeking to calm the escalating clashes.

[{"selector":"#anim-54990f1e-3e3b-4ae8-8d1f-8452f1da91d4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.418843182968274%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Party Text Credit:NDTV

The protests began last month after the Bangladesh high court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to scrap it.

[{"selector":"#anim-6516c562-ba26-410e-a103-6725d255ff88 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.02163441980353%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Credit:NDTV

[{"selector":"#anim-5b1c687c-c09e-4cd4-870f-f6ce89031c11","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08c321bd-c0c0-4b1e-b9ee-c317d52546d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.70492%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] However, the Supreme Court suspended the high court's order after the government's appeal, setting a date of August 7 to hear the government's challenge. Credit:NDTV

Dozens of people have been killed in Bangladesh as nationwide student protests over the allocation of civil service jobs took an increasingly violent turn.

[{"selector":"#anim-71e3d95c-4537-4e9e-8363-26902940768a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.71153830387863%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Credit:NDTV

[{"selector":"#anim-d8a940d8-954f-40e6-a370-5c891e48c99f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae4a02ee-8281-4aeb-986a-2e420896d24e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.38671%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The death toll from Thursday’s violence had risen to 32, the AFP news agency reported on Friday. That number could not be immediately verified. Credit:NDTV

[{"selector":"#anim-d1d1978c-04df-4d54-b83a-b029b41f6e29","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71be3160-30aa-4693-873b-82bc7a751feb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.21053%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The demonstrating students are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves more than half of government jobs for specific groups, including children of veterans from the country's 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. Credit:NDTV

The quota system in Bangladesh has undergone several changes since it was introduced in 1972. The system covers groups such as freedom fighters' families. Five per cent is allotted to Indigenous communities, and one per cent is allotted to the disabled, reported Reuters.

Protests erupted after a Bangladesh High Court ruling to reinstate the contentious 30% quota in government jobs for ‘freedom fighters’ and their descendants.

On Thursday, the protests took an even ugly turn as the demonstrating students set fire to the country's state broadcaster, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the network seeking to calm the escalating clashes.

The protests began last month after the Bangladesh high court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to scrap it.

The protests began last month after the Bangladesh high court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to scrap it.

Dozens of people have been killed in Bangladesh as nationwide student protests over the allocation of civil service jobs took an increasingly violent turn.

The quota system in Bangladesh has undergone several changes since it was introduced in 1972. The system covers groups such as freedom fighters' families. Five per cent is allotted to Indigenous communities, and one per cent is allotted to the disabled, reported Reuters.

ReaRead More About