The High Court order
The protests began in July with students demonstrating against the controversial quota system that allocated government jobs following a High Court order to restore 30 percent job quotas for descendants of freedom fighters. According to reports, nearly 32 million young people are out of work or education in Bangladesh, which has a population of 170 million.
Agitated students called for the 30 percent reservation quota for the families of freedom fighters to be struck down. The protest turned violent on July 16 as student protesters clashed with security officials and pro-government activists. This led to a curfew with a shoot-on-sight order. The internet and mobile data were also turned off.
Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s response
However, the now ex-Prime Minister Hasina’s refusal to meet the students’ demands, citing ongoing court proceedings, escalated the situation. Further, her comments labelling those opposing the job quotas as ‘Razakars’ (those who collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war of independence) prompted thousands of students to leave their dormitories at Dhaka University to protest last month.
Quota reduced but enraged students demand Sheikh Hasina’s resignation
The protest quickly escalated, spreading civil unrest across the nation and initially claiming 120 lives. To control the protest, the Apex court of Bangladesh scaled back the controversial quota system. Reports state that the Supreme Court reduced the quota from 30 to 5 percent, with 93 percent of jobs to be allocated based on merit. The remaining 2 percent will be set aside for members of ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities. The government accepted the decision and restored internet access, thinking that the situation would ease. The decision was cautiously welcomed but was not enough to quell the unrest.
Adding fuel to the fire, the then PM labelled the protesting students as ‘terrorists’ and urged the people to ‘suppress them with a firm hand’. This led the students to demand the resignation of Hasina and her Cabinet.
Sunday was the deadliest day of the protest
Amid Sheikh Hasina’s response, the demonstrators attacked a major public hospital in Dhaka, torched several vehicles, and offices of the ruling party on Sunday, 4th July. Videos also showed police opening fire on the crowds with bullets, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Her Awami League party claimed that the demand for Hasina’s resignation showed the protests had been taken over by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the now-banned Jamaat-e-Islami party, blaming them for fuelling the violence. On Sunday, as per reports, at least 95 people were killed. Amid the chaos, schools and universities have been closed since last month.
Bangladesh PM resigns and flees the country
On Monday, reports stated that the now ex-PM Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. Thousands of protesters stormed her residence while millions celebrated on the streets. Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, announced in a broadcast that Sheikh Hasina had resigned and that the military would form an interim government.Media reports suggest that the Bangladesh military aircraft carrying former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has landed at Hindon airbase in Delhi around 5:39 pm. The report further mentioned that she is likely to leave for the United Kingdom.