Student protests against quotas for government posts

Tens of thousands of young people have been on the streets for five days, in the capital and across the country. They are calling for a reform of the system that favours the families of independence fighters. Amnesty is concerned about police violence. Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators: “We are calling for an emergency session of Parliament.”

In Bangladesh, thousands of students have staged a five-day protest, dubbed the “Bangla Blockade,” which has blocked streets in the capital, Dhaka, and major cities across the country to demand that quotas for government jobs – hundreds of thousands of which pay well – be abolished and a merit-based system be introduced. The current system allocates a third of jobs to children of 1971 independence fighters. Tensions have been rising and protesters have attacked police barricades, sparking clashes. Bangladesh’s Supreme Court temporarily suspended the system yesterday, but protests are not expected to end until it is scrapped.

At Comilla University, police chased students and opened fire, while in Chittagong, police used batons against protesters. Amnesty International expressed concern at the news that at least 20 people, including some students, were injured during the police crackdown. The protesters are calling for Parliament to pass a law to reform the quota system. If this is not met, the protests will continue. The announcement came after a four-hour blockade of the Shahbag junction in the capital, accompanied by the start of protests at all educational institutions in the country from this afternoon.

Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, announced tomorrow’s programme, denouncing police attacks on protesting students in various parts of the country. Marches and rallies will be held at all campuses at 4 pm tomorrow to protest against such attacks. Islam said: “What we are asking for is an emergency session of Parliament to pass a reform.” Addressing the protesters, he warned that any obstacles to the movement would be met with collective action, blaming the government for the suffering of the people and saying that logical reforms to the quota system would obviate the need for protests. He added that the movement has the support of the public.

Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said: “There is a need to reform the quota system. There must be a logical solution based on discussion to determine the appropriate quota percentage. This discussion must be conducted in a rational manner.” Since the country’s independence, the quota system for government jobs has evolved. Until 2018, 56 percent of jobs were filled by quotas, with the majority of these – 30 percent – ​​earmarked for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters. That year, widespread protests demanded reforms to reduce the quotas from 56% to 10%. Eventually, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the cancellation of all quotas, and on 4 October 2018 the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular abolishing the quota system in direct recruitment for ninth class (previously first class) and tenth to thirteenth class (previously second class) posts. However, a 56% quota remains for third and fourth class posts.

On June 5, the Supreme Court, comprising Justices KM Kamrul Quader and Khizir Hayat, declared the decision to scrap the quota system illegal. A Christian freedom fighter, who wished to remain anonymous, commented, “If the quota system is scrapped again, it will bring dishonor to the freedom fighters.” Martha Das, general secretary of the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh (NCFB), told which supports students but believes there needs to be district-by-district candidate quotas for women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities: “The quota for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters should be reduced from 30% to 10%. All other quotas should be maintained to ensure integrated development,” Das said. The NCFB is a movement that aims to encourage Christians and churches in Bangladesh to pray, plan and work together for the evangelisation of Bangladesh.