Bangladesh Quota Reform Movement and the Rise of Violence

The Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh began as a response to the long-standing government job quota system, which many students and job seekers felt was outdated and unfair. The movement was initiated by the Bangladesh General Students's Rights Protection Council (Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad) and gained momentum in early 2018.

Movements

The protesters called for a reduction in the 56% quota reserved for various groups, advocating for a merit-based system. The support extended beyond students to include job seekers and various civil society groups. There were allegations that political parties tried to influence the movement for their own agendas. Disagreements among the movements' leaders also contributed to internal conflicts.

Government's response

The Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh, which had seen significant activity in previous years, regained momentum in 2024.

The immediate trigger for the renewed protests was a verdict by the High Court in June 2024, which declared the 2018 government circular that had canceled the 30% quota for descendants of freedom fighters illegal. This decision reinstated the quota system, sparking widespread anger and frustration among students and job seekers. Law enforcement agencies, including the police and the ruling Awami League's student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, were involved in violent crackdowns on protesters. This included the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and mass arrests.

The government attempted to control the narrative by shutting down mobile networks and internet connections. Students and activists used various platforms to share information, organize protests, and garner international attention. The violent suppression of the protests and the resulting casualties generated significant public sympathy for the movement.

Terrorist activities

The recent quota reform movement in Bangladesh has led to several acts of destruction and arson, impacting government and public assets.

The state broadcaster, Bangladesh Television (BTV), was attacked and set on fire on July 18, 2024. The building suffered extensive damage, with several sections completely burnt. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the site and expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The Hanif Flyover toll plaza booths and the generator house in Dhaka were also vandalized and set on fire on July 18, 2024. This attack disrupted traffic and caused significant damage to the infrastructure.

On July 19, 2024, a violent attack on Narsingdi District Jail resulted in a massive jailbreak. Armed assailants, reportedly linked to Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP, stormed the prison, set fires, and broke open cell locks, allowing 826 prisoners, including nine militants, to escape. The attackers looted weapons, ammunition, and food supplies while causing extensive damage to the facility. Several prison guards were killed during the attack, and the attackers fled with the escaped prisoners.

A significant data center in Dhaka was torched, causing severe disruptions to internet and telecom services across the country. The fire, which broke out on July 24, 2024, led to the loss of 70–80% of the country's bandwidth. This attack was attributed to miscreants aiming to disconnect Bangladesh from the rest of the world. Protesters also set fire to the Mirpur 10 metro rail station, leading to the suspension of metro services from Mirpur 12 to Agargaon.

Infiltration of saboteurs

The Quota Reform Movement also became violent due to the infiltration of saboteurs. They used the movement to incite violence and chaos. Key infrastructure, including metro rail stations, government buildings, and vehicles, were targeted and set ablaze. These sabotages were aimed at discrediting the movement.

Misinformation

The recent quota reform movement in Bangladesh has been plagued by online misinformation. Misinformation has exacerbated tensions.

Both ruling and opposition parties have been accused of spreading false information to further their agendas. The government has blamed opposition groups like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for inciting violence and chaos. Some international media outlets have also been criticized for misreporting events.

Causalities

The recent quota reform movement in Bangladesh has resulted in significant casualties. The violence has led to the deaths of at least 30 people. Among the casualties are 19 people killed in clashes between student protesters, security officials, and pro-government student activists; 6 people were killed in violent campus protests, leading to the closure of several major universities; and 5 people were killed with dozens other injured in separate incidents on university campuses.

Additionally, more than 2,500 individuals have been injured during the clashes. The injuries range from minor to severe, with many requiring hospitalization.

Bangladesh Supreme Court Reforms Job Quota System

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh recently scaled back a controversial job quota system after widespread unrest. Here are the key points from their verdict:

1. Quota Reduction: The court ordered that the quota for descendants of veterans be reduced to 5 percent. This means that only 5 percent of government jobs will be reserved for veterans’ descendants.
2. Merit-Based Allocation: 93 percent of government jobs will now be allocated based on merit, without any quota considerations.
3. Inclusive Quota: The remaining 2 percent of jobs will be set aside for members of ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and disabled people.

Bangladesh Government’s Notification following the Supreme Court’s Verdict

The government has published a notification reforming quotas in government jobs following a Supreme Court verdict with 7 percent seats allocated for different quotas in all grades after violent student protests. The notification on Tuesday said the quotas were fixed in direct recruitment to government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous institutions, autonomous and statutory authorities and corporations in order to ensure the principle of equality and representation of underdeveloped communities in public service. From now on, 5 percent of government jobs will be kept aside for the children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters, and Biranganas or war heroines. The candidates from small ethnic groups will get a 1 percent quota. The quota for people with disabilities and from the third gender combined is also 1 percent. The remaining 93 percent posts will be filled directly with candidates from the merit list. If no candidate is found from the quotas to fill a vacant post, the recruitment will be based on merit.

Opinions and expressions of certain personalities in the judgements given by the Supreme Court

Cultural Personalities

Sohel Rana Remarks on Supreme Court’s Verdict -

In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court has delivered a significant triumph for the students. Sohel Rana expressed his satisfaction, stating, “This is a big win for the students, as they have achieved what they have been striving for since the beginning of this movement. While I initially thought the freedom fighter quota would remain at 10 percent, I find the 5 percent allocation to be reasonable. Additionally, I welcome the decision to eliminate the quota for women, as I believe they are equally talented and capable as men.”

Rana also emphasized the importance of addressing the students’ 8-point demand, saying, “I wholeheartedly support the petition to compensate the victims’ families and to provide a government job to at least one member of their immediate family. I hope the government pays attention to these demands.”

Ramendu Majumdar Remarks on Supreme Court’s Verdict -

"I am happy with this verdict – I believe that now, talent will take centre-stage at determining who gets more opportunities. I feel like at this point, the students should postpone their movement, and discuss their further concerns with the government bilaterally. I am very disturbed by how many lives were lost due to these violent clashes, who will take the blame for this? I urge the government to investigate the matter and sentence those responsible. Although I support this verdict, I do feel like omitting the quota for women is a misstep."

Abul Hayat Remarks on Supreme Court’s Verdict -

"Logical demands have won, and I am sure that along with me, the entire country supports this verdict. Also, freedom fighters were in no way disrespected, as they will still have 5 percent reserved for their families. I wish that the students' demands were fulfilled much earlier, we could have avoided so much unnecessary bloodshed!"