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Thread for all news and discussion related to the movement.


The two-week-long anti-quota protests in Bangladesh have turned violent after groups linked to the ruling party attacked student protesters in the capital, Dhaka.

More than 400 people were injured on Monday and Tuesday during attacks on protesters who are against the government job quota system amid rising unemployment in the South Asian nation.

The protests began on July 1 after the High Court reinstated the job quota that reserves one-third of civil service posts for children of fighters who participated in the country’s liberation movement in 1971.

So what triggered the current protests and why is the quota system facing opposition?

Who is protesting against job quotas in Bangladesh?​

Students from government and private universities across Bangladesh are demanding reform in the conventional job quota system, under which more than half of much sought-after government jobs are reserved.

The protesters said they are not aligned with any political group and they want a merit-based system that is fair to all.

Fahim Faruki, a protester and third-year international relations student at Dhaka University, said the students organised the protests through a Facebook group and were not backed by any political organisation.

The protest movement has come to be known as the Students Against Discrimination movement. Thousands of students from Dhaka University in the capital as well as Chittagong University have staged sit-ins against the quota system.

What triggered the recent protests?​

On June 5, the High Court ordered the reinstatement of the 30 percent quota for children of freedom fighters, deeming the 2018 abolition of quotas illegal. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League had abolished the quota system after massive protests.

On Wednesday, students from Dhaka University blocked major intersections and the police precinct in Shahbagh, a popular square in Dhaka. The student-led blockade of Shahbagh square continued for days.

What is the quota system in Bangladesh?​

In 1972, the country’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, introduced a quota system, reserving a percentage of government jobs for children and grandchildren of people who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Under the system, 44 percent of first- and second-class government jobs are “merit” based.

The remaining 56 percent are reserved for specific communities:

  • 30 percent for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters
  • 10 percent for women
  • 10 percent “zila quota” for “backward” districts
  • 5 percent for ethnic minorities
  • 1 percent for people with physical disabilities

What do the anti-quota protesters want?​

The anti-quota protesters are demanding the 30 percent quota for children of freedom fighters be abolished.

They support reserving jobs for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

“Our protest is not against the quota system. It is instead for the reformation of the system,” Faruki said.

Another protester, Ayan*, 23, who is also an international relations major at Dhaka University, concurred, saying they do not want the quota system to be abolished altogether but want the percentage of jobs reserved to be lowered.

How has the government responded?​

The government has deployed riot police who fired tear gas and charged with batons on Tuesday during violent clashes between the protesters and a pro-government student group. Paramilitary troops were also deployed across several districts amid heightened tensions.

On Thursday, student protesters from the public Comilla University, southeast of Dhaka, clashed with police, who opened fire, local media reported. Twenty people, including students and three policemen, were injured as a result, local media reported.

Ruling party leaders and ministers have tried to paint the protesters as anti-nationals and against the government after Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, referred to them as “Razakars”.

In Bangladesh, Razakar is an offensive term that refers to those who betrayed Bangladesh in the 1971 war by collaborating with Pakistan.

“Why do they have so much resentment towards freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?” she asked at a news conference on Sunday.

In response, protesters chanted the slogan, “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar,” during a protest at Dhaka University.

A student leader quoted in a local media outlet said the slogan was chosen by students in response to the government’s efforts to discredit their movement.

Asif Nazrul, a law professor at Dhaka University, told Al Jazeera that the message the students intended to convey through their slogans was clear. “I doubt any student at Dhaka University would identify themselves as Razakar,” he said.

Nazrul also criticised the government’s response, suggesting it was eager to suppress the protests and had found a convenient pretext to do so.


How many people have been killed and injured in the protests?​

At least five people have been killed, police officials said.

As of Tuesday, more than 400 people were injured, and 297 were treated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the AFP news agency reported.

Were there clashes between protesters and Chhatra League?​

The protesters have blamed the ruling party’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), for the violence. Faruki said BCL members summoned protesters inside the university hostel before the attack.

“They surrounded us from the high buildings and pelted us with stones and small brick parts. Many students were injured.”

Faruki added that the BCL was armed, leaving the protesters helpless against them.

“We were unarmed. How will we get arms?”

The student protesters said they were not safe from the BCL in hospitals either. “The student league went inside the [Dhaka Medical College] Hospital and attacked there,” Faruki alleged.

Ayan was at the hospital’s emergency ward after several of his friends were injured and said no security or police protected the protesters from the BCL.

On the other hand, BCL President Saddam Hossain said more than 100 of its leaders and activists were injured in the violence, the Anadolu Agency reported. Hossain insisted that the student body had been provoked.

“Those who openly identify as ‘Razakar’ must face consequences. Such individuals have no place in this country, and we have decided to politically confront the students protesting quota reforms,” he said during a media briefing on Monday.

Protests continued on Tuesday, disrupting traffic in Dhaka.

“We are not going to leave the protests until our demands are fulfilled,” Ayan said.

*Name changed for privacy.

 

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The members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, and Rajshahi.

The elite security forces are deployed to bring the law-and-order situation under control as quota reform protesters and Chhatra League men clashed across the country.

BGB's Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam confirmed the information on Tuesday afternoon.

He said: “BGB has been deployed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, and Rajshahi to maintain law and order amid the ongoing quota reform movement.”

At least 5 people have been killed across Bangladesh amid the ongoing movement. Hundreds of students are reportedly injured as well.

In Chittagong, three BGB platoons were deployed in Chittagong.


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Startup Bangladesh Limited has announced today that it has canceled an investment proposal of Tk 5 crore for 10 Minute School, Bangladesh's largest edtech platform.

Startup Bangladesh Limited is the first and only flagship venture capital fund of the ICT Division sponsored by the Bangladesh Government.

"An investment proposal of Tk 5 crore for 10 Minute School has been canceled by Startup Bangladesh," Startup Bangladesh Limited said in a Facebook post today on its verified account.

The reason for the cancellation of the investment proposal is not yet known, as 10 Minute School and Startup Bangladesh Limited have not responded to The Daily Star's queries.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, on his official Facebook profile, shared Startup Bangladesh Limited's post with the same information in the caption.

The move comes amid an ongoing movement with protesters demanding reform of the quota system in government jobs.

Ayman Sadiq, co-founder and CEO of 10 Minute School, endorsed the ongoing movement by supporting the protesters' demand for reform of the quota.

"Two days earlier, on his verified Facebook page with nearly 7 million followers, Sadiq posted: 'We want quota reform. Merit should be the biggest quota,' hashtagging #QuotaMovement."

The post went viral, generating over 2 lakh likes, 38,000 comments, and nearly 6 thousand shares.

As Chhatra League activists attacked quota protesters on Dhaka University campus yesterday, triggering fierce clashes that left at least 300 people injured, Sadiq posted: "Dhaka University is bloodied. Why is there blood on my campus? I protest."

He is also a former student of the university.

10 Minute School also used a black profile picture on its verified Facebook page after yesterday's incident.


All public and private universities across Bangladesh will remain closed until further notice.

A press release, signed by UGC secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman, said academic activities of all public, private universities, medical, textile, engineering colleges affiliated to the university and other colleges will remain shut until further notice.

The UGC has taken the move in line with the Education Ministry’s decision, said the release.

Moreover, the students have been ordered to vacate the halls of residence considering the safety.

The UGC made the announcement in a statement amid violent clashes between quota protesters and police and Chhatra League.

Earlier in the day, all secondary, higher secondary, and polytechnic institutions and colleges under the National University were declared closed until further notice.

At least six people were killed and hundreds were injured on Tuesday as clashes took place during nationwide protests demanding the reformation of quota in government jobs.

Tuesday's protest program gained momentum as thousands of students from private universities and colleges also participated in the movement.

 

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The general students of Dhaka University (DU) have declared eleven of their residential halls politics-free after driving out some leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from their dormitories.

They announced their decision in the early hours of today (17 July). The students took the signatures of Hall provosts stating that if political leaders returned to the halls, the university administration would be responsible.

As of filing this report, eleven halls where political activities have been banned by the students are- Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, Amar Ekushey Hall, Ruqayyah Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall, Zahurul Huq Hall, Shamsun Nahar Hall, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, and Surja Sen Hall.

In the statement issued by students of Ruqayyah Hall and signed by the Hall provost, the general students said, "We, the general students of Ruqayyah Hall, declare our dormitory free from all kinds of politics from today. There will be no political activities here from now on, and if political individuals harm us, the university authority will be responsible."

Students of Ziaur Rahman Hall said in a statement, "The hall authority has to turn the hall terror-free and politics-free. All types of political activities have to be banned, and those political students who had attacked quota reform protesters on 15 July have to be immediately expelled. Moreover, no guest rooms or common rooms will be in the hall."

At least six people were killed, and scores were injured during clashes between the quota reform protesters, police and BCL leaders and activists nationwide on Tuesday. The night before, at least 300 agitating students were injured across the country when BCL activists swooped on them on university campuses.

Many BCL leaders and activists have resigned from their positions since then, stating that the repression of the protesters by the government goes against their ethics, ideology and conscience.

 
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Rokomari, one of the biggest online book-selling platforms in Bangladesh has made science fiction writer Dr Zafar Iqbal's books unavailable from their website after his comments on the quota protesters.

Rokomari authorities told the media, "Dr Zafar Iqbal's books have been made 'Not Available' on our site."

Earlier, a part of a two-page letter written by Zafar Iqbal went viral on social media. In it, he wrote, "Dhaka University is my university, my beloved university. However, I think I will never want to go to this university again. Seeing the students will remind me that they might be the 'Razakars.'

"And as long as I live, I do not want to see the face of any Rajakar. We have only one life, why should I see Razakars again in this life?" the letter added.

Dr Zafar Iqbal's note was shared widely on Facebook on 16 July, igniting further debate and discussion among netizens and stakeholders in the ongoing quota reform movement.

"Our beloved Jafor Iqbal Sir, a man of honor. What a smashing dialogue he presented, should never be forgotten," said a Facebook user Amin Rahman.

Another Facebook user wrote, "I never expected to witness Dr. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal transform from a hero to a villain."

Meanwhile, Books of Bengal, another book-selling platform also took a similar stance and announced that they would stop selling Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal's books.

"Like many, we grew up reading Muhammad Zafar Iqbal's writings. He instilled in us an interest in the Liberation War. But the kind of statements he has made about the quota movement and Dhaka University are unacceptable to us," reads Books of Bengal's Facebook post.


Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) who are protesting for quota reforms in government jobs have issued a ban on Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal from entering the university.

"Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is banned from SUST for life," reads a statement signed by general students of SUST which went viral on social media today (17 July).

The popular writer is a retired professor of this university who faced backlash for his comments on the quota reform protesters.

A part of a two-page letter written by Zafar Iqbal went viral on social media. In it, he wrote, "Dhaka University is my university, my beloved university. However, I think I will never want to go to this university again. Seeing the students will remind me that they might be 'Razakars'."

Dr Zafar Iqbal's note was shared widely on Facebook on 16 July, igniting further debate and discussion among netizens and stakeholders in the ongoing quota reform movement.

In response to his remarks, SUST students in their statement said, "We had great respect for Muhammad Zafar Iqbal. But his article from yesterday has disappointed and angered us. He has stood against the general students. When students are being killed and attacked, as a teacher, he should not write such things. Therefore, we have banned him from the SUST campus for life."

Meanwhile, the university administration today announced an indefinite suspension of educational activities at SUST. Additionally, all residential students were instructed to vacate their dormitories by 3pm.

The decision to vacate the dorms was made at an emergency syndicate meeting held at 10am today.

Reacting to this decision, the protesting students expressed their anger, stating that they would not leave the dorms.

A statement in the name of the protesting 'general students' spread on Facebook.

In the statement posted in the "Beauty of SUST Campus" Facebook group, it was mentioned, "The general students have ordered the indefinite closure of the registrar's building, the controller's office, and the VC's office."

 

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Dhaka University (DU) Chhatra League President Mazharul Kabir Sayan and General Secretary Tanveer Hasan Saikat have reportedly fled from the campus.

This was informed by quoting the students who went to the campus of the university on Wednesday (July 17) morning.

DU students said that General Secretary Tanveer Hasan Saikat left the campus on Wednesday morning after ordering the leaders and activists to go to a safe shelter. DU Chhatra League president Mazharul Kabir Shayan fled from the campus after a while.

Meanwhile, in morning, students agitating for quota reform vandalized the office of the president and general secretary of DU Chhatra League. Students said that a firearm was recovered from the bedroom. Apart from this, the general students threw out the leaders of the Chhatra League from all the women's halls of DU.

It is to be noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said regarding the quota reform movement in the press conference organized about the visit to China. Sheikh Hasina said, 'Why is there so much anger about the liberation war? The freedom fighter's grandsons will get nothing, then will Razakar's grandsons get everything?'

The students of Dhaka University started protesting from Sunday night, alleging that the quota reform activists were called 'Razakar's children or grandsons'. Then the movement spread across the capital. When the movement spread across the country on Tuesday, 6 people lost their lives.

The students will hold a 'Gayebana Janaza and Coffin March' on Wednesday in protest against the police and Chhatra League's brutal attack on the protestors demanding quota reform across the country. This program will be celebrated at the foot of Raju sculpture of Dhaka University at 2 pm.

 

Nilgiri

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Hey, broskis! Everything alright over there?

@Afif @Isa Khan et al.

There is a total curfew in place at the moment given the protests and riots that have escalated.

The BD govt has basically shut off all comms inside and to outside world, including the internet.

So it will take some time for our forum friends in BD to get access to our forum again.

Most of my real life BD friends in Canada are unable to get in touch with their families back home etc.... last a number of them heard was the army was closing in and arresting a whole lot of ppl/organisers/leaders etc they deemed at the top of things.

The BD supreme court has pared back a lot of what set off the current atmosphere (when last month a high court gave the quota ruling)...but the student leaders are making some more new demands (govt ministers to resign etc) given the over-reaction they say of police and govt etc.

It might take some time basically before we see our BD posters back in forum given blackwall of comms right now enforced.

@TR_123456
 

Kartal1

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There is a total curfew in place at the moment given the protests and riots that have escalated.

The BD govt has basically shut off all comms inside and to outside world, including the internet.

So it will take some time for our forum friends in BD to get access to our forum again.

Most of my real life BD friends in Canada are unable to get in touch with their families back home etc.... last a number of them heard was the army was closing in and arresting a whole lot of ppl/organisers/leaders etc they deemed at the top of things.

The BD supreme court has pared back a lot of what set off the current atmosphere (when last month a high court gave the quota ruling)...but the student leaders are making some more new demands (govt ministers to resign etc) given the over-reaction they say of police and govt etc.

It might take some time basically before we see our BD posters back in forum given blackwall of comms right now enforced.

@TR_123456
Yep, I realized it by checking of the login patterns of our friends correlating with the imposed communications ban. I hope everything is alright with them and troubles just past them by without doing them harm.
 

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