In Bangladesh, the coordination committee of the Quota Reform Movement today called for a peaceful ‘complete shutdown’ across the country to push their demand for reform in the quota system and to protest the attacks on student protesters. They declared a nationwide shutdown except for hospitals and other emergency services. This morning, a young man was killed in clashes between quota reform protesters and the police in Dhaka, and several others were injured in different parts of the country. 

 

The government has deployed 229 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in addition to various police agencies across the country to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday announced a judicial inquiry into the recent unwanted incidents in which six people lost their lives during the ongoing movement. She also unequivocally announced that steps would be taken to ensure that those who committed crimes, whoever they were, would get the appropriate punishment. 

 

The students and teachers of universities have been staging protests demanding quota reforms in government jobs since July 1st. Six people were killed and scores were injured on Tuesday as students’ protests against the job quota across the country turned deadly amid alleged attacks by police and ruling party-affiliated student organisations on protesters. The protests started in response to a verdict by the High Court on June 5, 2024, which declared the 2018 government circular cancelling the 30% quota for freedom fighters’ descendants in government jobs illegal. The circular was issued in the wake of the 2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement.

 

Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged the Bangladesh government to protect the protesting students demanding quota reforms in government jobs against any form of threat or violence.

 

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, briefed in New York on Tuesday and said that the UN was very aware of the situation, which they were following closely and with concern. The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh said on Tuesday night that all public and private universities, its affiliated medical colleges, and other institutions will remain closed until further notice for the sake of students’ safety. The Education Ministry also announced on Tuesday the closure of all secondary and higher secondary educational institutions, including polytechnic institutes, until further notice.

 

After the independence of Bangladesh, 30 percent of the jobs were reserved for freedom fighters. In 1997, the government extended the quota to children of freedom fighters. In 2010, it was further expanded to include the grandchildren of freedom fighters. In 2018, following nationwide protests against this quota system, a government circular cancelled the quota system for first- and second-class jobs. However, on June 5, 2024, the High Court ruled on a writ petition filed by the descendant of a freedom fighter and six others. The HC said the 2018 circular was illegal, meaning quotas were re-established in government recruitment once more. The government has appealed this ruling.