Bangladeshi Student Protesters Have Forced The Prime Minister To Resign
Thousands of students have been protesting in Bangladesh since July after the government reinstated a system to reserve 30% of government jobs for veterans' families.
Student protesters in Bangladesh have forced the prime minister to resign.
Protesters wave national flags as they stand over the Anti Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture during a protest in Dhaka on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)
The job quota system saved a certain percentage of government jobs, which pay higher, for certain people.
Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, speaks at the 'Girl Summit 2014' in Walworth Academy on July 22, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
These include marginalized groups such as women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, as well as the children of veterans who fought in the war for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement holds a rally at Central Shaheed Minar August 3, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Suman Kanti Paul/Drik/Getty Images)
Unemployment has been on the rise in Bangladesh, with nearly 32 million young people out of work or education, according to Reuters.
Students are blocking the Shahbag intersection during a protest to demand a merit-based system for civil service jobs in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 12, 2024. Students are demanding an abolished quota system in government services. (Photo by Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury/NurPhoto)
Protesters say the quota decreases the number of government jobs for people who can fill the roles based on merit.
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They also say that the quota for veterans’ families favors supporters of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s party, which had led the fight for independence.
Police hit a Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) activist blocking a highway entering Bangladesh's capital with other activist during a protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Photo by Munir uz zaman / AFP)
After the demonstrations broke out, police started to violently crack down on protesters.
More than 300 people have been killed, and thousands have been injured and arrested.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement holds a rally at Central Shaheed Minar August 3, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Suman Kanti Paul/Drik/Getty Images)
On July 21, the Supreme Court ruled to scale back the quota system so candidates will be hired based on merit.
A garment store is reportedly set ablaze by a group of unidentified miscreants in Dhaka on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Abu SUFIAN JEWEL / AFP)
But students continued to demonstrate, demanding justice for the people killed and arrested during the protests.
Hasina then tried to propose peaceful talks with the protesters as a last resort.
In this handout photograph taken and released on July 25, 2024 by Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (C) weeps while she visits a metro station in Mirpur vandalized by students during the anti-quota protests. (Photo by Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office / AFP)
But students rejected this, saying that "there is no dialogue with bullets and terrorism” and demanded Hasina to resign.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin (L) looks on as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sworn in for her fifth term at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)
On Sunday, August 4, more than 90 people were killed in violence between protesters and police, making it the deadliest day since the protests started.
People shout slogans during a protest march outside the High Court building demanding justice for the victims arrested and killed in the recent countrywide violence in Dhaka on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)
The next day, Hasina resigned and fled the country to India in a military helicopter.
A garment store is reportedly set ablaze by a group of unidentified miscreants in Dhaka on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Abu SUFIAN JEWEL / AFP)
After news about her departure emerged, hundreds of thousands of protesters broke curfew, marched through the capital, Dhaka, and invaded Hasina’s official residence to celebrate.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House on September 18, 2022 in London. (Photo by Jonathan Hordle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The country’s army chief announced Hasina’s resignation and said an interim government will be formed.
On Tuesday Aug. 6, the president dissolved the parliament, paving the way for an interim government, which the president said will hold elections as soon as possible.
Cherry Mohamed
