More than 150 killed in Bangladesh protests | BBC News

Summary

Bangladesh is experiencing heightened tensions as students persist in protests following the Supreme Court's decision to abolish most government job quotas for war veterans' relatives. Over 150 people have been killed in a week of unrest. The government has acknowledged the unfairness of the quota system, but demonstrators demand justice for the violence and implementation of the court's order. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina faces one of her most significant challenges, with the situation escalating beyond the quota issue to include broader grievances like inflation, corruption, and electoral fraud.

Takeaways

• 😡 Students in Bangladesh continue protests after the Supreme Court scrapped most government job quotas.
• 🔨 Protesters want the government to implement the court order before ending demonstrations.
• 💀 Over 150 people have been killed in a week of violent clashes.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 A third of government jobs were reserved for relatives of veterans from the 1971 independence war.
• 🚨 A strict curfew and near communication blackout have been imposed to control public anger.
• 📢 Protests are reportedly fueled by discontent over the job quota, corruption, high inflation, and election rigging.
• 🏥 Many students and protesters have been injured or killed in the violence, leading to public outcry.
• 👮‍♂️ Bangladesh's government denies using violence against unarmed students, claiming the protests are politically motivated.
• 👩‍⚖️ The Supreme Court ruling is seen as a step, but students demand accountability for the killings.
• 📴 Communication shutdowns make it difficult to get information from the ground.

Q & A

What is the main cause of the protests in Bangladesh?

The main cause of the protests is the government's job quota system for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh's war for independence, which students argue is unfair and benefits those close to the ruling party.

How did the Supreme Court respond to the quota system?

The Supreme Court scrapped most of the government job quotas, which led to protests by students who were demonstrating against them.

What is the current situation regarding the violence in Bangladesh?

The situation is tense, with more than 150 people killed in a week of violence. The government has imposed a strict curfew and near blackout of communication to control public anger.

What are the demands of the protesting students?

The students are demanding the government to implement the Supreme Court order, accountability for the violence against protesters, and justice for those killed.

What is the government's stance on the violence against students?

The government has denied using violence against unarmed students and alleges that the protests are politically motivated.

Who is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and what is her response to the situation?

The Prime Minister is Sheikh Hasina. She has promised action against those who've committed murder and acknowledged the unfairness of the high percentage of government jobs allocated for veterans' families.

What is the role of the police and paramilitary forces in the situation?

The police and paramilitary forces are accused of cracking down on the protests, leading to violence and casualties.

How has the international community reacted to the situation in Bangladesh?

The script does not provide specific details on the international community's reaction, but it mentions that the election was disputed and not considered free and fair by the international community.

What is the impact of the internet shutdown on the situation?

The internet shutdown has limited the flow of information, making it difficult to communicate with people on the ground and leaving the public with limited information about the ongoing protests and violence.

What are the broader issues that have contributed to the protests, according to the script?

Beyond the quota system, the script suggests that broader issues such as high inflation, corruption, lack of accountability, and disenfranchisement due to rigged elections have contributed to the protests.

What is the current status of the quota system after the Supreme Court's decision?

The Supreme Court's decision has scrapped most of the quotas, but the script indicates that students are not satisfied and continue to protest, demanding the implementation of the court order and justice for the violence.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Bangladesh Tensions Rise Over Quota System Protests

Bangladesh is experiencing heightened tensions as students continue to protest against the government's job quota system, despite the Supreme Court's decision to scrap most of it. The quota system, which reserved a third of government jobs for relatives of veterans from the 1971 war for independence, has been a point of contention. Over 150 people have been killed in a week of violence. The government has denied using violence against unarmed students and claims the protests are politically motivated. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised action against those responsible for murder. The situation is further complicated by a communication blackout and a strict curfew, making it difficult to gauge the full extent of the unrest.

05:01

📵 Internet Shutdown Amidst Widespread Protests

The Bangladeshi government's response to the protests has included an internet and communication shutdown, making it challenging to obtain real-time information from the ground. The protests have grown beyond the initial demand for quota system reform, as various disaffected groups join in, expressing grievances over issues like high inflation, corruption, and perceived election rigging. The government's handling of the situation is under scrutiny, with the international community closely watching the escalating violence and the government's commitment to addressing the protesters' demands.

Keywords

💡Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a South Asian country and the main setting of the video's narrative. It is where the protests and violence are occurring, as students and citizens are demonstrating against government policies. The country's political and social unrest is central to the video's theme, illustrating a struggle for justice and change.

💡Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh is a significant institution mentioned in the script, as it has made a decision that has fueled the protests. The court's ruling to scrap most of the government job quotas is a pivotal event that has led to the demonstrations and subsequent violence, highlighting the judiciary's role in social upheaval.

💡Protests

Protests are the primary action taken by students and citizens in response to the government's job quota system. These demonstrations are a form of civil disobedience, aiming to pressure the government to change its policies. The protests in the video are a central theme, showcasing the power of collective action and its potential consequences.

💡Government job quotas

Government job quotas refer to the system where a portion of government jobs are reserved for specific groups, in this case, relatives of veterans from Bangladesh's war for independence. This system is a key point of contention in the video, as it is seen as unfair and politically biased, leading to widespread protests.

💡Violence

Violence is a tragic outcome of the protests, with the script mentioning over 150 people killed. It signifies the severity of the conflict and the government's response to the demonstrations. The violence in the video underscores the high stakes and the human cost of the struggle for change.

💡Curfew

A curfew is a restriction imposed by the government to control public movement during certain hours, as mentioned in the script. It is a measure taken to suppress the protests and maintain order. The imposition of a curfew in the video reflects the government's attempt to regain control over the situation.

💡Communication blackout

A communication blackout refers to the intentional disruption or shutdown of communication channels, as referenced in the script. This is a tactic used by the government to limit the spread of information and control the narrative during the protests. It highlights the government's efforts to suppress information and the challenges faced by journalists and citizens in reporting and accessing accurate news.

💡Veterans

Veterans are individuals who have served in the military, specifically in the context of the video, those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971. The job quota system reserves a third of government jobs for their relatives, which has become a point of contention and a catalyst for the protests.

💡Paramilitary

Paramilitary forces are quasi-military organizations that operate alongside the regular armed forces. In the video, they are accused of cracking down on the protests, indicating their involvement in the government's response to the demonstrations. The mention of paramilitary forces in the script underscores the severity of the government's actions against the protesters.

💡Accountability

Accountability refers to the responsibility of individuals or organizations to be held to account for their actions. In the video, students demand accountability for the violence and killings during the protests, indicating a desire for justice and a response to the government's handling of the situation.

💡Disenfranchisement

Disenfranchisement is the act of depriving individuals of their right to vote or participate in the political process. In the script, it is mentioned as one of the reasons for the protests, reflecting broader issues of political exclusion and dissatisfaction with the electoral process in Bangladesh.

Highlights

Bangladesh remains tense with student protests following the Supreme Court's decision to scrap most government job quotas.

Protesters demand the immediate implementation of the court order before ending demonstrations.

More than 150 people have been killed in a week of violence related to the protests.

The quota scheme reserved a third of government jobs for relatives of veterans from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.

There is a heavy presence of troops on the streets, a strict curfew, and near-blackout of communication to control public anger.

Security forces are accused of using excessive force, with reports of unarmed students being killed and injured.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denied that the government used violence against unarmed students, calling the protests politically motivated.

There are allegations that the protests have been joined by various aggrieved groups, beyond just the students.

The government's response includes imposing internet and communication shutdowns, limiting information flow.

The journalist Kamal Ahmed described the situation as one of the most serious challenges Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has faced in nearly 15 years in power.

Protests are being fueled by multiple grievances, including high inflation, corruption, lack of accountability, and allegations of election rigging.

Despite the Supreme Court decision, some protesters continue to demand justice for those killed and injured during the crackdown.

Many protestors believe the quota system was unfair and favored those close to the ruling party.

The situation remains uncertain with continued protests and a harsh government crackdown.

Kamal Ahmed emphasized the limited flow of information from the ground due to the government's internet shutdown.

Transcripts

Bangladesh remains tense with some

students having vowed to continue

protests a day after the Supreme Court

scrapped most of the government job

quotas they were demonstrating against

they want the government to implement

the court order before they call off

their demonstrations more than 150

people have been killed there in a week

of violence the quota scheme meant a

third of jobs were reserved for

relatives of veterans from the country's

war for independence from Pakistan in

1971 a warning that this report from our

South Asia correspondent lay contains

distressing

images troops on the streets a strict

curfew a near blackout of

communication Bangladesh is using all

its might to control public

anger over the past week students

marched on the streets against kotar and

government jobs for families of veterans

of Bangladesh's war for independence

which some say benefits those close to

the ruling

party the police and paramilitary are

accused of cracking down on the

protest in this video verified by the

BBC a young man injured but alive left

on the streets by Security Forces he

died later one of more than 150

killed outside at taka Hospital Shaha

beam the aunt of 16-year-old Imam

Hussein who succumbed to gunshot

[Music]

injuries my nephew was an innocent child

why did they kill him in such a brutal

way she

cried hundreds have been injured in what

many describe as the worst violence

they've

seen three of my friends are dead see

there are blood stains on my hand why

are my hands colored with the blood of

my

brothers Bangladesh's government has

denied that it used violence against

unarmed students it alleges the protests

are politically

motivated prime minister shik Hina last

spoke out on Wednesday she promised

action against those who've committed

murder in nearly 15 consecutive years in

power this is one of the most serious

challenges she's faced yog BBC News

well let's speak to Kamal Ahmed an

independent British Bangladeshi

journalist uh thank you very much for

joining us on BBC News wonder if I could

ask by asking you first were you

surprised by the levels of

demonstrations and indeed the violence

there over the last

week of course we were surprised because

uh it comes only within 6 months of an

election which election was all disputed

uh nobody uh especially International

Community thought that eltion was free

and fair but anyway the new government

they took power and some sort of

stability was there and so so quick

there is such a big uh discontent um and

demonstration protest it was really uh

unexpected so quick just explain what

the students were angry about and

whether this Supreme Court decision

yesterday will make any

difference I it's too early to say that

whether the Supreme Court decision will

make any decision because some of the uh

protesting hesitating students have said

rejected this and said that they also

want um accountability for this brutal

repression U

they want Justice For Those killings U

indiscriminate killings you know that

the number has gone up up to 10075 or 74

so it's still unclear what's going to

happen but on the other hand the

government has accepted the rational

that uh

this High proportion or high percentage

of um government job uh in Kota

allocated for the veterans families were

not fair this unfairness has been

admitted now established so U it has to

be seen how it's been accepted yes and

some of the students are saying they're

not going to stop protesting until it

has actually been implemented this is

quite a tough thing for um the Prime

Minister isn't it at the moment it is

and remember this movement though it

started by the students as a quota

movement it no longer remained as a

quota movement uh all sorts of discon

disgarded people uh angry people they

joined this uh movement U because of

high inflation corruption lack of

accountability as I said before the

elections were rigged so

disenfranchisement is another reason so

there are lots of U aggrieved people

they combined this their force and

joined this movement so it has to be

seen how others are reacting and we

don't know because government has

imposed a a internet shutdown

communication shutdown we can't speak to

the people on the ground and very

limited information is coming out from

the ground even yesterday there were

trouble and 12 more people uh were

killed yesterday

Kamal Ahmed independent British

Bangladeshi journalist thank you for

joining us on BBC news thank you