Reports are coming in about a major  Bangladesh protest where, in one day, 98 people have lost their lives, and around 100 others have been injured. The situation is dire. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. 

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister is facing a significant challenge as ongoing protests over the past 20 years have resulted in over 300 deaths. The most severe incident occurred on Sunday, with 98 people killed and 100 injured when police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. This violence represents the largest disaster in Bangladesh’s history, surpassing the previous record of 67 deaths on July 19. Students are protesting against the government jobs quota system. 

What was the reason for the incident that occurred in Bangladesh? 

This protest began last month when students from Dhaka University, the country’s largest university, clashed violently with police and pro-government counter-protesters. The controversy behind the protest is a contentious quota system 

Protesters claim that the quota system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party. They argue that replacing the existing quota system with a merit-based system, where jobs and opportunities are given based on qualifications and performance, would be more appropriate. 

The quota system was established in 1972 and temporarily ended in 2018, but it has since been returned Critics argue that the system unfairly benefits supporters of the Awami League and provides fewer opportunities to other well-qualified students. 

This protest over the quota issue has evolved into an anti-government movement, with diverse sections of society involved, including musicians and film stars. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power since 2009 and won a fourth consecutive term in elections that were boycotted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, faces allegations that he is strengthening her power with the help of state institutions. 

Protesting students have announced a ‘March to Dhaka’ program for today. 

In 39 districts, protesters attacked public representatives’ homes, 20 Awami League offices, and police stations, vandalizing and setting them on fire. They also targeted residences and offices of ruling party ministers, state ministers, parliamentarians, and Awami League leaders at least 14 different locations 

In response to the unrest, the government declared a nationwide curfew starting from 6 PM on Sunday and announced a three-day general holiday beginning Monday. The government also shut down intensive services. Protesters blocked major highways and non-corporation groups initiated a program that exacerbated the violence. Police stations and ruling party offices became targets. In Sirajganj, 13 policemen were beaten, and fires were set at the homes of two lawmakers. 

The unrest has not been confined to Dhaka but has spread throughout the country. In the central district of Munsiganj, clashes between protesters, police, and ruling party activists resulted in the deaths of 20 construction workers and left 30 people injured. There have also been clashes in Lakshmipur, Narsingdi, Rangpur, Magura, and other districts. In Dhaka, a hospital was vandalized and four garment factories were set on fire. The government has also decided to shut down high-speed internet services and social media platforms. 

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