Bangladesh Protesters Clash Over Quotas in Government JobsBangladesh Protesters Clash Over Quotas in Government Jobs Violent clashes erupted in Bangladesh between supporters of the ruling party and protesters demanding the abolition of a quota system in government job recruitment. The quota system reserves over half of well-paying civil service positions for specific groups, including children of war veterans. Critics allege that it favors candidates from pro-government factions. Despite a temporary suspension of the quotas by the Supreme Court, protesters vow to continue protesting until the disputed parts are completely scrapped. On Monday, anti-quota protesters and supporters of the ruling Awami League party engaged in hours-long clashes at Dhaka University, wielding stones, sticks, and iron rods. Molotov cocktails were also thrown, according to witnesses. Police reported at least 100 injuries, with 20 students in serious condition. Nahid Islam, coordinator of the anti-quota protests, alleged that their peaceful march was attacked by stick-wielding assailants. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina compared the protesters to Razakar fighters who collaborated with Pakistan during the 1971 war of independence, a comment that further fueled the backlash. Protests spread to multiple universities, with students blocking traffic near the US embassy. Hasina defended the quotas for freedom fighters’ descendants at a press conference. However, the protesters argue that only quotas for ethnic minorities and the disabled should be retained. “We want a reform of the quota system,” said a student from Dhaka University, fearing reprisals for being identified. The clashes highlight deep divisions within Bangladesh over the allocation of government jobs and the influence of pro-government groups.
Protesters say the quota system actually benefits children from pro-government groups and are demanding it be abolished.
At least 100 people have been injured in violent clashes between supporters of Bangladesh’s ruling party and demonstrators protesting against quotas for coveted government jobs, police said.
The quota system reserves more than half of high-paying civil service positions, amounting to hundreds of thousands of government jobs, for specific groups, including children of fighters in Pakistan’s 1971 war of independence.
Critics say the system favours children of pro-government groups who support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who won her fourth consecutive term in a general election in January that was boycotted by the opposition.
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court temporarily suspended the quotas last week, but protesters have vowed to continue protesting until the parts of the plan they oppose are completely scrapped.
Hundreds of anti-quota protesters and students supporting the ruling Awami League party fought for hours on the campus of Dhaka University on Monday, throwing stones, fighting with sticks and hitting each other with iron rods, according to police and witnesses.
Some carried machetes while others threw Molotov cocktails, witnesses said in an AFP report. “They clashed with sticks and threw stones at each other,” police official Mostajirur Rahman told AFP.
Nahid Islam, national coordinator of the anti-quota protests, said their “peaceful procession” was attacked by people carrying sticks, batons and stones. “They beat our female protesters. At least 150 students were injured, including 30 women, and the condition of 20 students is serious,” he said.
26-year-old student Shahinur Shumi was injured and said the protesters were surprised.
“We were holding our procession peacefully,” she said from her hospital bed at Dhaka Medical Hospital. “Suddenly, the Chhatra League (the ruling party’s student wing) attacked us with sticks, machetes, iron rods and stones.”
‘Reform quota system’
According to local media, protests by thousands of students in Bangladesh began on Sunday night and continued into Monday after Hasina said the quota was a matter for the Supreme Court.
Hasina is also said to have compared the protesters to Razakar fighters, who collaborated with the Pakistani army during the war of independence.
Students protested at a dozen universities on Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday, protesting Hasina’s remarks and the quota system.
Police said on Monday that hundreds of anti-quota students from several private universities joined the protests in Dhaka, blocking traffic near the US embassy for more than four hours.
“About 200 students were squatting and standing on the road,” deputy police chief Hasanuzzaman Molla told AFP.
At a press conference at her official residence, Hasina (76) criticised those who oppose the quota for the descendants of the country’s freedom fighters, local media reported.
But the protesting students said only the quotas to support ethnic minorities and the disabled – which reserve 6 percent of government jobs – should be retained.
“We want a reform of the quota system,” said a student from Dhaka University, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
