look news india
The student movement demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs in Bangladesh has turned violent. More than 100 people have lost their lives so far in this movement that started across the country some time ago. The Sheikh Hasina-led government has decided to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy the army to curb the worrying law and order situation. The protesting students are roaming the streets with sticks and stones in their hands and setting buses and private vehicles on fire. More than 2500 protesters have been injured so far in clashes with police and security forces. Mobile and internet services are currently closed in the country.
India has described these violent protests as an internal matter of Bangladesh. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 15,000 Indians living in the neighborhood are safe, including about 8,500 students. By 8 pm on Friday, 245 Indians, including 125 students, have returned from Bangladesh. So then the question arises that what happened that the situation in Bangladesh has become so bad? Let us tell you that the protests in Bangladesh started after the decision of the Bangladesh High Court in which 30 percent quota in government jobs for freedom fighters and their descendants was retained. The quota system was abolished in Bangladesh in 2018 after massive protests led by students and teachers.
Who gets reservation?
Bangladesh has a 30 percent reservation in some public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971. Protesters argue the system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party led the liberation movement. Sheikh Hasina has defended the reservation system.
There is no quota system in Bangladesh
Students in Bangladesh are protesting against this 30 percent reservation in jobs. They are questioning why the third generation of freedom fighters should be given benefits. They are demanding completely merit-based recruitment. There is currently no reservation system in Bangladesh after the Supreme Court suspended the High Court order last week. Sheikh Hasina's government abolished all reservations in jobs in 2018 after a massive student movement. There was no quota since 2018.
A group of petitioners moved the High Court in 2021 and fought a case to get back 30 per cent reservation for freedom fighters in the civil services. After hearing the case for three years, on July 1, the High Court upheld the 30 per cent reservation quota. Soon after this decision of the High Court, the Attorney General approached the Supreme Court. A petition was filed on July 16. According to reports, the Supreme Court last week suspended the High Court order for four weeks. The Chief Justice asked the protesting students to return to classes and also said that the court would decide in four weeks.