Chicago – July 23, 2024
Bangladesh has been without internet for five days, and the government announced a public holiday on Monday. This follows violent protests over a controversial system for government job allocation. The country saw clashes between police and mainly student protesters who opposed a quota that reserved 30% of jobs for war veterans’ relatives. This violence resulted in over 100 deaths, reported by local newspapers, though official figures are not yet available.
The Supreme Court recently ordered the veterans’ quota to be reduced to 5%. Now, 93% of civil service jobs will be merit-based, with 2% reserved for ethnic minorities, transgender, and disabled people. The situation appeared calm on Monday morning, and no immediate violence was reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faced significant challenges due to these protests, defended the quota system, saying veterans deserve respect. Universities have been closed, the internet shut off, and people have been ordered to stay home. Students also called for some university officials to resign for failing to protect campuses.
