‘Mindless killing changed everything’: How Bangladesh’s quota protests ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year reign
Bangladesh was thrown into turmoil on Monday as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down from her position and left the nation. Her resignation followed a brutal suppression of protests that had escalated from demonstrations against employment quotas into a full-scale movement calling for her removal from power. The crackdown resulted in the deaths of hundreds of individuals.
Driving the news
Driving the news
- In a broadcast to the nation on state television, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief of Bangladesh, announced that Hasina had resigned and that the military would form a
caretaker government . - Dressed in military fatigues, Waker said, “The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence.”
- This announcement came shortly after jubilant crowds stormed and looted Hasina’s residence.
- In Dhaka, demonstrators scaled a monument dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the founding father of Bangladesh. Once atop the statue, the protesters proceeded to use an axe to forcefully remove and damage the sculpted head of the revered figure.
- External affairs minister S Jaishankar met PM Narendra Modi and briefed him developments in Bangladesh.
- Meanwhile, Hasina reached India aboard a Bangladesh Air Force C-130J military transport aircraft, PTI reported quoting sources.
- It remains uncertain whether the military transport plane will carry her onward from India or if she will switch to another aircraft for her journey to London, the PTI report said.
Why it matters
- With over 32 million young people out of work or education in Bangladesh, the protests have tapped into widespread frustration over limited opportunities and economic challenges.
- The absence of Sheikh Hasina from Bangladesh’s political landscape may exacerbate the country’s already precarious situation.
- Bangladesh, one of the world’s most densely populated countries, faces high levels of unemployment, pervasive corruption, and the dire consequences of climate change. These crises have already placed a significant strain on the nation, and the departure of its leader could further compound these issues.
Zoom in
- The unrest began in July 2024 when students initiated demonstrations demanding the abolition of a government job quota system that allocated a significant percentage of positions to the descendants of war veterans from the 1971 independence conflict.
- The protests intensified after the high court reinstated a 30% job quota for the families of freedom fighters, sparking widespread outrage among students and young professionals who argue that the quotas perpetuate inequality and hinder merit-based hiring.
- The government’s attempt to reduce the quota to 5% failed to quell the unrest, with demonstrators demanding the complete abolition of the quota system.
- The situation escalated dramatically on August 4, 2024 as violent confrontations erupted between protesters and supporters of the ruling
Awami League , Chhatra League, and Jubo League activists. - The protesters were mainly organized by the Students Against Discrimination, with the sole demand of Hasina’s resignation over the job quota system.
- So far, over 300 have died in these protests since July.
‘Mindless killing changed everything’
The violent crackdown on protesters, which resulted in hundreds of deaths, fueled anger and resentment.”The killings definitely stand as the most brutal retaliation by a government on any civic movement in the post-liberation Bangladesh history—and may be that of the subcontinent. We shudder at the thought of how a civilian government could allow its law enforcers to attack its own people with such brutality. The killing was not just an event, but one that took place over several days. Wasn’t there any reflection, any afterthought and reassessment at the end of the first, second or third day that such heartless and continuous killing of one’s own people must stop,” said Mahfuz Anam in column “Mindless killing changed everything” published in Daily Star.
What they are saying
- “The country is going through a revolutionary period. “I promise you all, we will bring justice to all the murders and injustice. We request you to have faith in the army of the country. I take full responsibility and I assure you to not get disheartened,” the Bangladesh army chief said.
- “I request you all to be a little patient, give us some time and together we will be able to solve all the problems,” Zaman added. “Please don’t go back to the path of violence and please return to non-violent and peaceful ways.”
- “15 consecutive years of power have been shattered by a people’s revolution. In the end, the Iron Lady had feet of clay,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center.
- “Bangladesh has achieved its second independence now,” Abu Sayem told Reuters in Whitechapel, a London neighbourhood home to a large Bangladeshi community . “We actually got our independence first in 1971 but autocrat Sheikh Hasina was ruling the country forcibly. She has snatched away our rights. She has killed thousands of children.”
What it means for India
- Under Hasina, Bangladesh has emerged as one of the most trusted allies of India in South Asia.
- Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the former foreign secretary of India, expressed concerns that an unstable Bangladesh could contribute to instability in certain regions of India.
- “An unstable Bangladesh can add to instability in parts of our country, which we do not want to see. So, a peaceful, prosperous, stable Bangladesh is India’s best. It is very important that we work with all concerned to ensure that our interests and those of Bangladesh are secured,” Shringla told ANI.
- Shringla expressed confidence that Indian representatives would engage with the relevant individuals in Bangladesh to protect India’s broader interests and constructively promote peace and stability in the region.
- “We have strong ties across the board in a multifaceted manner in Bangladeshi society. And, we will engage any political or any other organization that we need to in the furtherance of our larger interests and those of Bangladesh,” he said.
What’s next
- The Hasina chapter seems to be over for Bangladesh. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son, told BBC that there would be no political come back for her. She was “so disappointed that after all her hard work, for a minority to rise up against her,” Joy said.
- Hasina’s departure “would leave a major vacuum” and that the country was in “uncharted territory”. “The coming days are critical, as it moves toward what will hopefully be a peaceful transition,” Kugelman said.
- “The key now is to move the process along, to create the interim set-up, to ease uncertainty and reduce the risk of more volatility.”
- Now, all eyes will now be on the army chief.
(With inputs from agencies)
