Accuses Opponents: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused her political adversaries of inciting the recent deadly violence in the country. Over the past two weeks, more than 150 people have died, and around 500 individuals have been arrested, as unrest has gripped Bangladesh.
Addressing the media, Prime Minister Hasina stated that she was “compelled” to impose a curfew to ensure public safety. “We will lift the curfew whenever the situation improves,” she assured, speaking during a meeting with business leaders in Dhaka.
The unrest escalated following the top court’s decision to abolish most of the quotas for government jobs, a key demand of the protesters. The protests, led primarily by students, have evolved into calls for Hasina’s resignation. She attributed the violence to the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing their student factions of stirring the unrest.
This situation represents a significant challenge for Prime Minister Hasina, who secured a controversial fourth consecutive term earlier this year in an election boycotted by major opposition parties. Mubashar Hasan, a research fellow studying authoritarianism in Asia, commented, “The over-politicization of the liberation war’s spirit and the denial of basic voting rights have frustrated many in the country.”
Before the court’s recent ruling, approximately 30% of high-paying government jobs were reserved for descendants of those who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence. The court’s decision to allocate 93% of these positions based on merit was seen as a major shift.
Initially, Hasina downplayed the protesters’ concerns, which only fueled further unrest. On July 14th, she defended the quota system, questioning why there was so much resentment towards freedom fighters’ descendants. Her remarks, particularly her controversial comments about the Razakars—a paramilitary group that sided with Pakistan during the 1971 war—sparked even more protests.
The situation has led to widespread protests, with thousands taking to the streets. Fires have been set, including one at the state broadcaster BTV, and the government has responded by calling in the military and imposing a nationwide curfew. Mobile internet and text message services have also been suspended for five days in an attempt to quell the unrest.
In Conclusion, Student leaders have vowed to continue their protests, demanding justice for those killed and detained and calling for the resignation of government ministers and an apology from Prime Minister Hasina.
