Bangladesh announced it will indefinitely shut down all public and private universities from Wednesday (July 17) after massive country-wide protests against a controversial quota system in government jobs have left at least six dead, and over 400 injured.

REASONS FOR PROTEST

  • The protests erupted in the wake of a June 5 ruling by the Bangladesh High Court reinstating the 30% quota for freedom fighters and their descendants in government jobs, which was repealed in 2018 after a massive agitation led by students and teachers.
  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further added fuel to the fire by referring to the Protestors as ‘razakars’, a derogatory Bangla word for ‘traitors’ — with some grim historical baggage.
THE QUOTA SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH Government jobs, in Bangladesh, are highly coveted as a stable and lucrative source of income. Nearly 400,000 graduates compete every year for around 3,000 such jobs. Until 2018, 56 per cent of government jobs were reserved for various categories.
  • 30%: were reserved for family members of veterans who had fought for bangladesh’s liberation in 1971.
  • 10%: Women and people from underdeveloped districts.
  • 5%: Members of tribal communities.
  • 1%: Reserved for persons with disabilities.
This left only 44 per cent of all openings available for open admission. WHY WAS THIS QUOTA CONTENTIOUS? The freedom fighters’ quota was particularly contentious since many people perceived it to be favouring those loyal to Hasina’s party, the Awami League, which headed the Bangladeshi liberation struggle. Adding to people’s frustrations were the special examinations for quota candidates, varying age limits for each category, and the fact that there remained many vacancies in quota seats even as eligible candidates in the merit list were unemployed.