Complete Shutdown In Dhaka As Student Protesters Clash With Police Over Quota Demand | 10 Points

Dhaka: In a nationwide protest, students across Bangladesh began a “complete shutdown” over their demands to reform the public jobs quota system. On Thursday, one more student was killed. 

Here is a 10-Pointer on what is happening across Bangladesh

• What has fuelled the protests  

Fifty-six per cent of government jobs are reserved under the current quota system with 30 being for the descendants of the 1971 Liberation War freedom fighters, 10 per cent for backward administrative districts, 10 per cent for women, five per cent for ethnic minority groups and one per cent for the handicapped people. 

The protests have been driven by demands for reform of the country's quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of those who participated in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

•   Protestors claim meritorious students getting debarred in recruitment

The protestors waged the campaign for the reform of the system saying it was debarring meritorious students’ recruitment in first-class and second-class government jobs

• Protesters, Educational Institutions announce a one-week protest

Authorities at the premier Dhaka University on Wednesday announced an indefinite closure of the institution. The students have been asked to vacate their dormitories by Wednesday evening.

• 7 students killed in clash with Law enforcement agencies 

At least six people, including four students, died across the country by Thursday. One more student died on Friday. According to media reports, four of the deceased were students and the remaining two were small traders. Two people were killed in the capital Dhaka, three in the southeastern port city of Chattogram and one in northwestern Rangpur.

• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina expresses regret, announces probe into killings

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in an address to the nation on Wednesday, “deeply regretted” the casualties in the violence over student protests and said that a judicial inquiry committee will be formed. Hasina asked demonstrators to keep faith in the country’s apex court as the issue is pending with it.

• UN, US, Amnesty International urges authorities to restrain

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday urged Bangladesh authorities to engage with protesting students adding “all acts of violence and use of force, especially resulting in loss of life, must be investigated and perpetrators held to account". Amnesty International has urged Bangladesh authorities to "immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters" while the US State Department also denounced the "violence against peaceful protesters", prompting a rebuke from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry.

• Similar protests happened in 2018 over the ‘Quota Issue’

The protesters in 2018 waged a nearly identical street protest demanding quota system “reforms” when after an initial reservation the government “abolished” the quota system, which was overturned recently by a High Court division bench, dragging the issue to the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. 

• Indian High Commission issues advisory for Indian citizens

Indian High Commission in Dhaka has issued an urgent advisory for Indian citizens and students in Bangladesh to avoid non-essential travel and minimise movement outside their residences due to the escalating unrest in the country.The advisory comes in response to recent violent clashes between students and police in Dhaka, following the Bangladeshi government's decision to close all public and private universities.

Mobile Internet suspended across nation 

"Mobile internet has been temporarily suspended due to various rumours and the unstable situation created ... on social media," Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the junior information technology minister, told reporters.

• Bangladesh PM Hasina urges Students to remain patient 

On August 7, the Supreme Court will hear the government's appeal against a High Court verdict that ordered reinstatement of the 30% reservation for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, she said.