Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla discussed the violent protests in Bangladesh over the country’s quota system. He suggested that the government may not have fully understood the levels of dissatisfaction, leading to a bigger movement than expected.
Shringla explained that the current situation in Bangladesh has roots in the 1971 war. Today, students are demanding changes to the quota system amid high unemployment and economic struggles. Earlier this year, some people went to court, and the high court overturned the government’s decision to remove the quota system. This angered the students, leading to more protests. The government claims it supports the students and has appealed the court’s decision, waiting for a ruling from the Supreme Court.
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When asked if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underestimated the anger, Shringla noted that student protests are not new in Bangladesh. He recalled significant protests in 2018, including those about road accidents. The quota system was initially set up to help those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, but now students believe it should be reconsidered due to current economic conditions.
Shringla pointed out that other groups, like the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, infiltrated the student protests, making them more violent. These groups have historical ties to Pakistan and radical Islamic ideologies. Their involvement escalated the situation, leading to extensive damage and loss of life.
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The protests have led to severe destruction, including the burning of metro stations, government buildings, and police stations. In Narsingdi, protestors freed about 860 inmates, including some wanted for terrorism.
The unrest was fueled by student opposition to a new policy that reserved government jobs for descendants of freedom fighters. The violence led to a government curfew, school closures, and a shutdown of mobile and internet services. Following over 100 deaths, the Supreme Court reduced the quota for war veterans’ relatives from 30% to 5%, allocating the majority of jobs based on merit and reserving a small percentage for minorities, transgender individuals, and the disabled.
