Bangladesh observed a day of mourning on Tuesday to honor the memory of over 200 individuals who lost their lives in the recent wave of violence that erupted from student protests against the country's quota system for government jobs.
The protests, initially peaceful, sought to reform the system that allocated 30% of government jobs to relatives of war veterans and individuals affected by the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. However, on July 15, violence broke out when activists from a student wing of the ruling party attacked demonstrators, prompting security officials to intervene with tear gas and rubber bullets.
The unrest posed a significant challenge to Bangladesh's government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who secured a fourth consecutive term in January amid opposition boycotts. The clashes have resulted in a death toll of at least 150, with thousands more injured and around 10,000 arrests made in connection to the violence.
While the government has defended the arrests as necessary, rights groups have criticized the crackdown as arbitrary and politically motivated. Amnesty International's regional director for South Asia condemned the mass arrests as an attempt to stifle dissent and instill fear among citizens.
Protesters, demanding a shift to a merit-based job allocation system, have refused to back down despite the release of a statement by six protest coordinators calling off the demonstrations. They continue to push for all nine of their demands to be met, including a public apology from Prime Minister Hasina.
In response to the protests, the Supreme Court ordered a reduction of the veterans' quota to 5%, with the majority of civil service jobs to be based on merit. The government has pledged to implement the court's decision, signaling a potential shift in the job allocation process.
As the country gradually returns to normalcy, internet services have been restored, but social media platforms remain blocked. Banks and offices have reopened under a relaxed curfew, while educational institutions remain closed as authorities work to address ongoing protests.
