Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Bangladesh, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst escalating violence and a deepening political crisis. The protests, which began in early July, were initially sparked by the government's decision to reinstate job quotas for relatives of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The policy, which reserved 30% of public sector jobs for the relatives of war veterans, was met with widespread anger from students and young people, who face soaring unemployment rates. According to official data, youth unemployment in Bangladesh has almost tripled since 1991, rising from 5.6% to 15.7% in 2023.
Despite the Supreme Court's decision to reduce the quota for war veterans to 5% and overall quotas to 7%, protests resumed this week, with demonstrators demanding justice for the nearly 200 people killed in previous anti-quota protests. Many of those deaths were allegedly at the hands of police, fueling further outrage and calls for accountability.
The protests have since morphed into a broader anti-government movement, with demonstrators accusing Hasina's administration of corruption, election rigging, and human rights abuses. "Sheikh Hasina should not only resign, there should be a trial for the killings, looting, and corruption," said Nahid Islam, one of the movement's leaders, at a protest in Dhaka on Saturday.
In response to the escalating unrest, authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew, restricted internet access, and declared a holiday from Monday to Wednesday. However, protesters remain undeterred, with plans to push ahead with a "March to Dhaka" protest on Monday, a day earlier than initially planned.
"We are urging students and the public nationwide to start their journey to Dhaka tomorrow to lay siege to the city," protest coordinator Asif Mahmud told Al Jazeera. The move is seen as a bid to pressure Hasina's government to meet their demands.
Despite the unrest, Hasina has offered to engage in dialogue with protesters, saying she wants to "sit with the agitating students of the movement and listen to them. I want no conflict." However, many demonstrators remain sceptical, demanding concrete action rather than words.
As the situation continues to unfold, concerns are growing about the potential for further violence and instability in the country. The international community is watching closely, with many calling for restraint and dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully.