Bangladesh has a rich history of student activism, but the odds are stacked against student protesters this time, says a professor from the University of Essex.
Students clash with police during a protest over the quota system in public service, in Dhaka, Bangladesh , Friday, July 19, 2024. over the past few weeks to demand an overhaul of how public sector jobs are distributed. The government had sought to reintroduce quotas that reserve 30 per cent of these jobs for descendants of veterans from Bangladesh ’s war of independence with Pakistan in 1971. The quotas, which had initially been scrapped in 2018, are widely regarded as unfair and discriminatory.
The protests reflects deeper issues in the country around political freedom, government accountability and fair access to opportunities. The question now is whether students sustain the movement for broader change in the country.The quota system is seen by many as an attempt by the ruling Awami League to further capture state institutions.
However, many argue that this success occurred despite the actions of the ruling regime. And following the pandemic, this veneer of success began to unravel. Youth unemployment has risen to 40 per cent, inflation remains persistently high at 10 per cent or more and significant corruption scandals have recently come to light.with economic conditions that contradict their election pledges, such as raising utility and tax bills.
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