The protests, which began late last month, reached a boiling point earlier this week.
New Delhi:
Violence in Bangladesh has left more than 130 people dead, while students demand reforms to a quota system that governs the allocation of public positions in the country. The protests intensified following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s controversial comments where she labeled protesters as “Razakars”. This term, historically loaded and with a negative connotation, dates back to the East Pakistani volunteer force that opposed the creation of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation during the 1971 War of Independence.
The spark
The protests, which began late last month, reached a boiling point earlier this week when student activists at the University of Dhaka, the country’s largest university, engaged in violent clashes with police and counter-protesters aligned with the Awami League, in power.
The controversial quota system reserves up to 30% of government jobs for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. Protesters argue that this system is discriminatory and disproportionately benefits supporters of the former’s Awami League party. -Minister Hasina. They advocate a merit-based system to replace the existing quota. Prime Minister Hasina’s inflammatory comments at a public meeting sparked fresh protests.
“If not the grandchildren of the freedom fighters, who will get the benefits of quotas? The grandchildren of the ‘Razakars’?” asked the Bangladeshi prime minister. “This is my question. I want to ask the people of the nation. If the protesters do not comply, I can do nothing. They can continue their protest. If the protesters damage property or attack police, the law will take its course. We cannot to help.”
PM Hasina’s intention was to highlight the importance of preserving the benefits for the descendants of those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence. However, the term “Razakar” struck a nerve. It is a term that evokes memories of the widespread violence of the 1971 War of Independence, during which the “Razakars” collaborated with the Pakistani army against the Bengali nationalist movement.
Historical context of the term “Razakar”
The “Razakars” were a paramilitary force recruited by the Pakistani army during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Composed mainly of pro-Pakistani Bengalis and Urdu-speaking Biharis, the “Razakars” were involved in numerous atrocities, including mass murders, rapes and torture. The 1971 war saw immense suffering, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging between 300,000 and 3 million. The scars of these events are still evident in the national psyche.
In 2010, Prime Minister Hasina’s government created the International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute those accused of war crimes during the 1971 conflict. This move was part of its strategy to resolve historical injustices and was widely seen as a fulfillment your party’s electoral promises. Since then, the court has sentenced several individuals, predominantly from the now-banned Jamaat-e-Islami party.
In December 2019, the government published a list of 10,789 individuals identified as “Razakars”, marking the first official recognition of these collaborators. This list included prominent figures and was intended to ensure that future generations understood the historical context of their actions.
The Contentious Quota System
The current protests are rooted in the quota system for public jobs, which allocates significant portions to descendants of freedom fighters. This system, established in 1972 and briefly abolished in 2018 before being reinstated, has been a source of contention. Critics argue that this disproportionately benefits Awami League supporters and limits opportunities for other qualified candidates.
“They are protesting against the repressive nature of the state,” said Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh expert at the University of Oslo in Norway, quoted by the AFP news agency. “Protesters question Hasina’s leadership, accusing her of clinging to power by force. The students are actually calling her a dictator.”
Student protests against the quota system have a history in Bangladesh. The latest wave began after the decision to reinstate the system, followed by the Supreme Court’s suspension of the order pending an appeal from the government. This legal limbo has left many students frustrated, feeling that their demands for a merit-based system are being ignored.
Student complaints go beyond the quota system. High youth unemployment and a stagnant economy have contributed to a sense of frustration and despair. Public sector jobs, with their regular salaries and benefits, are highly coveted in a country where economic opportunities are limited.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
