Violence in Bangladesh: Protests Demand Justice and Resignation of Prime Minister

Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Amid Protests

In a tragic turn of events, at least 30 individuals have lost their lives, and numerous others have sustained injuries due to escalating violence in Bangladesh. This unrest comes as police resorted to using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse large gatherings of protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The violence erupted following peaceful demonstrations in the capital on Saturday, which called for justice for over 200 students who tragically lost their lives during protests last month. Initially, the protests were predominantly led by students, but they have since expanded to include a diverse array of participants from various sectors of society, including some pro-government factions.

The catalyst for the student protests was a contentious quota system for government jobs, which many perceived as discriminatory. Under this system, 30% of government positions were reserved for the families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s liberation war against Pakistan in 1971. This sparked outrage among students, leading to widespread demonstrations.

What began as peaceful protests took a violent turn on July 15, when clashes broke out between students at Dhaka University and police forces, as well as members of the ruling Awami League party’s student wing. Since the onset of this turmoil, over 200 lives have been lost, and thousands have been injured, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Despite the Supreme Court’s decision in July to reduce the veterans’ quota to 5%, protests have continued to gain momentum, fueled by public outrage over the violence. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended an invitation to student leaders for dialogue on Saturday; however, this offer was declined by a coordinator via a Facebook post.

The ongoing protests present a significant challenge for Hasina, who secured her fourth consecutive term in office in January during an election that was largely boycotted by her main political opponents. In response to the unrest, the general secretary of Hasina’s ruling party announced calls for demonstrations from their supporters across the country on Sunday.

Hasina, along with other members of her Cabinet, has attributed blame for the unrest to the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and the now-banned right-wing group Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, accusations that both groups have firmly denied. In a statement made on Saturday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the protesters in their ongoing struggle for justice.