As the unpleasant situation occurred in Bangladesh, where students of Bangladesh have been Protesting violently over the distribution of government job reservations for children, and their grandchildren of “Freedom Fighters who fought the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971” with Pakistan, the verdict of the Bangladesh High Court came on 5th June 2024 which reintroduced the 30% job reservation quota and said the reservation would continue, the protesters were not satisfied with the decision and demand to abolish it, students formed groups with other college students too and they started disrupting roads, railways and transport system. student demands to reform the job quota reservation, the student claimed that the scheme is unfairly in favour of loyalists of Hasina’s Awami League Party, Hasina dismissed this that students are wasting their time and efforts, but on 16th July the first violence occurred where Six People were killed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. the government of Hasina declared the closing of schools and universities Nationwide. students got dissatisfied with Hasina’s decision and were more aggressive than before which led them to demand Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and 5th August’2024. Sheikh Hasina resigned and she left the country in an army helicopter. where students were calling her a DICTATOR and they were toned with “DOWN WITH THE DICTATOR” where more than thirty-two people were killed despite a military curfew and troops deployment due to a government-imposed ban on mobile internet services, nearly a blackout of communication.
CHALLENGES FACED BY BANGLADESH
The reason behind this protest is “Reservation” The protest is against the quota system, where 56% of jobs in the public sector of Bangladesh are reserved for different sections of society, and only 44% of jobs are available and based on merit, this system is quite different from India, here majority reservations is not on the bases of caste but freedom fighters.
Before Independence Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, at that time it was known as East Pakistan. Pakistan was called West Pakistan, back in time there was Social and Economic discrimination against East Pakistan, 59% of the country’s exports came from East Pakistan, but only 25% of the industrial investment went to East Pakistan. There was Political discrimination as well in the 1970 elections, East Pakistan had 162 seats and West Pakistan had 138 seats, people in West Pakistan voted for different political parties whereas East Pakistan voted for Awami League Party in a majority. Which was ruled by “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” Father of Sheikh Hasina, the result of the election stated that both east and west Pakistan areas were supposed to be governed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but the military of West Pakistan did not want this at all, back then Pakistan Military’s Commander-in-Chief Yahya Khan refused to accept the election result, Martial law was imposed on East-Pakistan, in response Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began civil disobedience movement in protest, at that time west-Pakistan military committed large-scale atrocities against the people of east-Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested, genocide occurred in East-Pakistan many people were killed, around 1 million people had to take refuge in India, 50% of East-Pakistan population got displaced because of the genocide.
After this, “The Bangladesh Liberation War took place in 1971,” during which India helped Bangladesh gain independence under the Prime- Ministership of Indira Gandhi. The people who fought for freedom in East Pakistan made the immersion of a free Bangladesh country. These freedom fighters are relevant to the quota system. In this system, 30% of jobs are reserved for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for backward districts, 5% for minorities and 1% for physical disabilities added them up is a total of 56%, where 30% is for freedom fighter’s descendants.
In October 2018, Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina’s government issued a circular saying that the quota system would be removed for first- and second-class jobs. But in 2021, a petition was filed by children of freedom fighters against the removal of this quota system. On June 5, 2024, the verdict came, which stated that the petitioner’s reasons were valid. The 2018 circular was declared illegal. The quota system gets reintroduced. and it is the main reason for the ongoing protest in Bangladesh.
As the violent riots in Bangladesh continued, many party members were killed. The Supreme Court stopped the high court verdict, where Sheikh Hasina made many remarks, one of which said, “Why do protesters hate the freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters do not get the reservation benefits, then will the grandchildren of the ‘Razakars’ be given the benefits? The Razakars means- treacherous and anti-national.
BACKSTORY CONNECTED WITH CURRENT SITUATION
How can the people who are protesting for reforming the quota system for freedom fighters disrespect the freedom fighters? In 2018, Sheikh Hasina herself removed the quota system for freedom fighters because she disrespected them.
A SUFFRAGE
A major impact of the Bangladesh protest led to a serious and sensitive cause where women and girls were kept alive just to get raped. the young generation is getting influenced by the current situation, a loss in education for days. this violent environment, losing someone close to them. Hindu people home got damaged, private and public places are been destroyed by protesters.
CONCLUSION
The main reason behind this protest is Unemployment. Unemployment has become a huge problem in many countries, including Bangladesh, where the condition of the economy has worsened and running low They have taken loans from countries like China. the protest to improve reservations is just a step but for long-term solutions, governments need to focus on job creation.
AUTHORED BY: RIDHISHA PATIL