Quota protests

Bangladesh has witnessed quite a few protests over the years despite its apparent flight towards prosperity and growth. The recent protests in the country – which have made headlines around the world – have been led by students who are against the proposed restoration of the job quota system for families of freedom fighters. Reporting on these protests was sparse, with authorities shutting down the internet and other communication channels, a move that most leaders now see as an effective strategy to prevent public outrage. Although communication channels are working without disruptions now, the situation is still quite risky. There have been deaths and injuries both. The protests are related to a system of quotas for government jobs that mandates 30 per cent positions go to Bangladesh’s liberation war fighters families. In 2018, a similar student movement had helped pave the way for the then government – also helmed by Sheikh Hasina – to scrap the quota system altogether. But then this summer the courts ended up reinstating the quota.

The problem may have been created by the courts but became exacerbated by how the Hasina regime responded to the ensuing protests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently enjoying her fourth consecutive term in power, is the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding member and freedom fighter Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. On Sunday, in light of nationwide protests against the court’s decision, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh scrapped most quotas on government jobs and added that 95 per cent of all public jobs would be filled on merit. Protesters say it is not enough, and the way the protests were handled demands accountability on the part of the government. Bangladeshi authorities have used disproportionate force while dealing with protesters, and many Bangladeshis have pointed out that Sheikh Hasina’s governance style is increasingly authoritarian with little or no room for dissent.

For years, Bangladesh has advertised itself as a one-stop destination for big companies looking for cheap labour. This allowed its private sector to mark decent growth. Even then, people were quick to point out that this growth trajectory is unsustainable. As the private sector lost the charm it once had – better pays and facilities – people now turn to the public sector whose pay packages and post-retirement perks are quite attractive. At a highly competitive time, any quotas reserved for people from privileged backgrounds are usually seen as a roadblock. Protests are the beauty of democracy, and instead of using force against them, government representatives should engage with protesters and try to find a middle ground. It seems Sheikh Hasina’s back-to-back victories have given her the confidence to fly too close to the sun, but such misplaced confidence usually leads to a backlash by the people. Might we add the same lessons be drawn by all governments across South Asia, where the ruling elite seems to think itself beyond accountability?