Last updated on August 30th, 2024 at 07:56 am
The Supreme Court stayed a High Court verdict that scrapped the 30 percent job quota for freedom fighters’ families, until a hearing on August 7.
Student Demonstrations Continue to Rise
Till now, despite the movement having been taken to the courts, student protests began escalating after Prime Minister Hasina refused to meet their demands over the quota system.
History and Changes in Bangladesh’s Quota System
The Bangladesh quota system was introduced in 1972, and the same has undergone various changes and a major part has been kept for the freedom fighters’ families, women, indigenous communities and people.
Protestors Demand Abolition of Most Quotas
City students continue their protest on the roads insisting that all quotas were to be slashed except the ones preserved for indigenous people and the disabled.Violent Clashes between Protestors and Awami League Members
Protests this week turned violent when quota demonstrators clashed with members of the student wing of Hasina’s Awami League party, prompting police to intervene.Criticism of Quota System Favoring Awami League Supporters
Critics say the 30 percent freedom fighters’ quota system tends to favor supporters of the ruling Awami League party, thereby tainting the apparent fairness of such a quota system.Economic Factors Fueling Unrest
Analysts relate it to the static pace of job growth in the private sector, which makes the jobs in the public sector more lucrative and hence generates much competition since only a few slots are available to all.High Youth Unemployment Adds to Student Frustration
High youth unemployment in Bangladesh – nearly 32 million young people are out of work or education- is feeding into the anger and frustration that is driving the protests.
That earlier decision eliminated the 30 percent of jobs reserved for family members of freedom fighters from the 1971 war of independence, which followed similar student protests.
However, the Supreme Court suspended the High Court order after the government appealed, scheduling a hearing for August 7 to review the challenge.
Despite the court proceedings, students intensified their protests when Hasina refused to meet their demands.
Introduced in 1972, Bangladesh’s quota system has undergone several modifications.
When abolished in 2018, 56 percent of government jobs were reserved under various quotas.
The majority were for freedom fighters’ families, with women and residents of underdeveloped districts receiving a tenth each, 5 percent for indigenous communities, and 1 percent for the disabled.
The Bangladeshi students protesting demand the abolition of all categories except for the last two.
The protests turned violent this week, with clashes between thousands of anti-quota demonstrators and members of the student wing of Hasina’s Awami League party. Police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades, and tear gas to disperse protesters who blocked railway tracks and major roads.
Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh who led its freedom movement. Protesters and critics argue that the 30 percent quota for families of freedom fighters disproportionately favors Awami League supporters, the party that led the independence struggle.
Experts attribute the unrest to stagnant job growth in the private sector, making public sector jobs, with their regular wage hikes and privileges, highly attractive.
The quotas reduce the number of government jobs open to everyone, disadvantaging aspirants who want positions filled based on merit.
This has fueled anger among students facing high youth unemployment, with nearly 32 million young people out of work or education in a population of 170 million.