DHAKA – Thousands of riot police were deployed at university campuses across Bangladesh on Tuesday, following a day of violent protests against a quota system for government jobs that resulted in over 100 injuries.
These demonstrations are the first significant protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government since she secured a fourth consecutive term in January. The unrest centers around a job quota system that includes a 30% reservation for descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence.
With stagnant job growth in Bangladesh’s private sector, government jobs, which offer regular wage increases and other benefits, have become increasingly desirable, according to Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development.
In Bangladesh, 56% of government jobs are reserved for various quotas: 30% for descendants of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for individuals from underdeveloped districts, 5% for indigenous communities, and 1% for people with disabilities.
Violence erupted on Monday when thousands of anti-quota protesters clashed with members of the student wing of the Awami League party. Protesters have announced plans for more marches and rallies nationwide, vowing to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met, said Nahid Islam, the coordinator of the anti-quota protests.
Sporadic violence was reported on Tuesday, with students blocking railways and major highways. TV footage showed a heavy police presence outside Dhaka University, with officers in protective vests and helmets, armed with wooden sticks.
The student wing of the main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has also called for marches on Wednesday to protest Monday’s attack on students.
The protests began earlier this month after the High Court ordered the government to reinstate the 30% job quota. Although the Supreme Court suspended this order last week for a month, the protests have continued and intensified after Hasina refused to meet the students’ demands, citing ongoing court proceedings.
Hasina’s labeling of quota opponents as “razakar”—a term for those who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war—has further fueled the protests.
Despite an average annual manufacturing production growth of 10% since 2011, employment in the sector has declined between 2017 and 2023, Razzaque said, citing official statistics. Additionally, youth unemployment remains high, with nearly 32 million young people not engaged in education, employment, or training.