Bangladesh is Burning! | What's Wrong? | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

Bangladesh is facing widespread student protests against the government's reservation system, which allocates 56% of public sector jobs based on criteria like freedom fighters' descendants. The situation has escalated into violence, leading to a military curfew, internet suspension, and accusations of the Prime Minister being a dictator. The protesters demand reform, questioning the constitutionality of reservations for future generations of freedom fighters.

Takeaways

• 🏫 Schools and colleges in Bangladesh have been shut down due to widespread protests.
• 📵 The government of Bangladesh has suspended mobile internet services to control the situation.
• 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 Students initially protested peacefully but the situation escalated into violence, leading to a military curfew.
• 🔪 At least 150 people have been killed and thousands injured in the violent clashes between protesters and authorities.
• 📊 The protests are primarily against the reservation system, where 56% of public sector jobs are reserved for different sections of society.
• 🌐 The reservation system in Bangladesh is distinct from India's, focusing on descendants of freedom fighters rather than caste-based reservations.
• 🇧🇩 Bangladesh's history of discrimination and struggle for independence plays a significant role in the current reservation system.
• 🏆 The 30% reservation for descendants of freedom fighters has been a point of contention, especially after being extended to grandchildren.
• 🏛️ The High Court's decision to reinstate the quota system in 2024 sparked renewed protests, as students argue it is unconstitutional.
• 🌐 Allegations of corruption and favoritism in the reservation system have further fueled public discontent.
• 💼 Unemployment is a significant underlying issue in Bangladesh, with a large number of graduates competing for a limited number of jobs.

Q & A

Why have schools and colleges in Bangladesh been shut down?

Schools and colleges in Bangladesh have been shut down due to the violent protests that have erupted across the country, which have led to a military curfew being declared.

Why has the government of Bangladesh suspended mobile internet services?

The government of Bangladesh suspended mobile internet services as a measure to control the spread of information and communication among protestors during the violent clashes.

What is the primary reason behind the protests in Bangladesh?

The primary reason behind the protests is the reservation or quota system implemented by the government, which reserves 56% of jobs in the public sector for different sections of society, leaving only 44% of jobs available based on merit.

How does the quota system in Bangladesh differ from that in India?

The quota system in Bangladesh is different from India's as it is not primarily based on caste but on the descendants of freedom fighters, who fought for Bangladesh's independence.

What historical context is relevant to understanding the quota system for freedom fighters in Bangladesh?

The historical context includes Bangladesh's struggle for independence from Pakistan, where freedom fighters played a crucial role. The quota system was initially created to honor these freedom fighters and was later extended to their descendants.

What percentage of jobs are reserved for the descendants of freedom fighters in Bangladesh's quota system?

In Bangladesh's quota system, 30% of jobs are reserved for the descendants of freedom fighters.

What was the outcome of the High Court's decision on the quota system in June 2024?

The High Court in June 2024 declared the government's circular to remove the quota system for first and second-class jobs illegal, thereby reintroducing the quota system, which led to the rekindling of protests across the country.

How has the government responded to the protests and allegations of corruption in the quota system?

The government has formed a Judicial Probe Committee to investigate incidents of violence and has approached the Supreme Court to appeal against the High Court's order. The Supreme Court imposed a stay on the High Court's order.

What is the role of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) in the context of the protests?

The BPSC is the organization responsible for conducting exams for civil service jobs in Bangladesh. The severe shortage of jobs and the quota system have made the competition extremely intense, leading to student protests.

What are the broader economic challenges facing Bangladesh that might be contributing to the unrest?

Bangladesh is facing high unemployment rates, with 30 million of the 110 million working-age population unemployed. The country also struggles with low foreign exchange reserves, high inflation rates, and economic instability, which exacerbate the discontent among the youth.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Bangladesh Protests and Political Tension

The script introduces a series of protests in Bangladesh sparked by the government's quota system, which reserves 56% of public sector jobs for various social sections, leaving only 44% for merit-based appointments. The protests escalated into violence, leading to a military curfew, school closures, and suspension of mobile internet services. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is accused of dictatorship as the youth protests against the reservation system, which favors descendants of freedom fighters, women, backward districts, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. The historical context of Bangladesh's struggle for independence and the role of freedom fighters is provided to understand the current quota system's significance.

05:04

📜 The Evolution and Impact of Bangladesh's Quota System

This paragraph delves into the history of Bangladesh's quota system, which initially reserved 30% of jobs for freedom fighters and was later extended to their children and grandchildren. The script discusses the 2012-13 movement against the quota, the BPSC exam's intense competition, and the government's attempt to remove quotas for first and second-class jobs in 2018. However, the High Court's 2024 decision to reinstate the quota system due to a petition by freedom fighters' descendants reignited the protests, with allegations of corruption and favoritism towards the Awami League party, leading to a national debate on the constitutionality and fairness of the quota system.

10:04

🗣️ Misrepresentation and Media Bias in Bangladesh's Protest Coverage

The script criticizes certain media outlets for misrepresenting the Bangladesh protests, accusing them of suggesting foreign involvement and comparing the situation with caste-based reservations in India. It highlights the absurdity of such comparisons and the need for a deeper understanding of the distinct social and historical contexts. The Indian media's portrayal of the protests as foreign-funded and its confusion over the nature of the reservations in Bangladesh are pointed out as examples of misinformation and bias.

15:04

🛑 Unemployment Crisis and the Need for Government Action in Bangladesh

The final paragraph addresses the root cause of the protests, identifying unemployment as a significant issue in Bangladesh. It outlines the country's economic struggles, including low foreign exchange reserves, high inflation, and a large number of unemployed people. The Supreme Court's decision to reduce the quota for freedom fighters' descendants to 5% is mentioned, along with the need for the government to focus on job creation and economic improvement. The script also touches on political concerns regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership and calls for a positive approach to address the nation's problems.

Keywords

💡Reservation

Reservation refers to the policy of setting aside a certain percentage of jobs or seats in educational institutions for specific groups, often to address historical disadvantages. In the video's context, it is the quota system in Bangladesh's public sector that reserves 56% of jobs for various sections of society, which is a central issue of the protests.

💡Merit

Merit in this script denotes the principle of allocating jobs or positions based on an individual's abilities and qualifications rather than through reservations. The script mentions that only 44% of jobs are available on the basis of merit, highlighting the protesters' concern about the fairness of the job allocation system.

💡Quota System

Quota system is a mechanism where a fixed proportion of opportunities is reserved for certain groups as a form of affirmative action. The script discusses the quota system in Bangladesh, which has led to protests due to its perceived unfairness in job allocation.

💡Freedom Fighters

Freedom Fighters are individuals who fought for the independence of a country. In the script, the descendants of freedom fighters in Bangladesh are given a 30% reservation in the quota system, which has become a contentious issue in the protests.

💡Bangladesh Liberation War

The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 was a pivotal event where Bangladesh fought for and achieved independence from Pakistan. The script uses this historical context to explain the origins of the quota system and the significance of freedom fighters in Bangladesh's history.

💡Curfew

A curfew is a regulation to limit movement or activity of people within a certain territory during certain hours. The script mentions a military curfew being declared in Bangladesh as a response to the violent turn of the protests.

💡Dictator

A dictator is a ruler with total power who has often acquired their position unlawfully. In the script, protesters are calling Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a dictator, reflecting their dissatisfaction with her government's handling of the quota system and the protests.

💡Cyclone Bhola

Cyclone Bhola is a historical reference to a devastating tropical cyclone that hit East Pakistan in 1970, leading to a significant loss of life and contributing to the political unrest that eventually led to the Bangladesh Liberation War. The script uses this event to illustrate the historical discrimination faced by East Pakistan.

💡Razakar

Razakar, meaning volunteer or helper in Persian, was used to describe a paramilitary group supporting West Pakistan's army during the 1971 war. In the script, the term is used in a political context by the Prime Minister to counter the protesters, highlighting the deep-seated historical tensions.

💡International Crimes Tribunal Act

The International Crimes Tribunal Act was introduced by the government of Bangladesh to find and punish those involved in atrocities during the 1971 war, known as Razakars. The script refers to this act to provide historical context for the current political climate and the use of the term 'Razakar'.

💡Straw Man Fallacy

A straw man fallacy is a type of argumentative strategy where an opponent's position is misrepresented in order to make it easier to attack. The script accuses Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of using this fallacy by misrepresenting the protesters' arguments against the quota system.

Highlights

Schools and colleges across Bangladesh have been shut down due to protests.

Bangladesh's government suspended mobile internet services to control the unrest.

Protesters are calling Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a dictator.

The protests in Bangladesh were initially peaceful but have turned violent, leading to a military curfew.

At least 150 people have been killed and thousands injured in the violent clashes.

The reason behind the protests is the government's quota system, which reserves 56% of public sector jobs for different sections of society.

The quota system in Bangladesh is distinct from India's, focusing on freedom fighters and not caste.

Bangladesh's history of discrimination and the struggle for independence plays a role in the current quota system.

The quota system reserves 30% of jobs for descendants of freedom fighters, sparking controversy.

Protesters demand reform of the quota system, suggesting removal of all reservations except for ethnic minorities and physical disabilities.

The High Court's decision to reinstate the quota system for freedom fighters' descendants reignited the protests.

Allegations of corruption within the quota system have raised questions about its legitimacy.

The Supreme Court imposed a stay on the High Court's order, but protests continue.

The government formed a Judicial Probe Committee to investigate incidents of violence during the protests.

Opposition parties and international bodies have criticized the government's handling of the protests.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comments on the protesters have been criticized as irresponsible and a straw man fallacy.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh suggested reducing the quota for freedom fighters' descendants to only 5%.

Unemployment is a significant underlying issue in Bangladesh, with the job market unable to keep up with the influx of new workers.

Bangladesh's economy faces challenges, including low foreign exchange reserves and high inflation rates.

The government's focus on job creation is essential for a long-term solution to the unrest.

Transcripts

Schools and colleges across the country have been shut down.

Bangladesh's government has suspended mobile internet services.

"If freedom fighters' grandchildren don't deserve it,

do the oppressors and their grandchildren deserve it?"

Such low-level arguments

do not suit a Prime Minister.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

is now being called a dictator by the protestors.

Hello, friends!

Last month, in Bangladesh,

a large number of students protested on the streets.

Initially, the protests were peaceful,

but now the situation has taken a scary and violent turn.

A military curfew has now been declared in Bangladesh.

"Troops on the streets,

a strict curfew,

a near blackout of communication."

Schools and colleges across the country have been shut down.

And the government of Bangladesh

has suspended mobile internet services.

In these violent clashes,

at least 150 people have been k!lled and thousands are injured.

The protesters are now calling Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a dictator.

What is the reason behind all this?

Let's understand this situation in detail in this video.

The reason behind these protests is Reservation.

The youth of Bangladesh is protesting

against the quota system of the government.

According to the quota system,

56% of jobs in the public sector of Bangladesh

are reserved for different sections of society.

This means that only 44% of jobs

are available on the basis of merit.

This system is quite different from India's

because majority reservation

is not based on caste

but on the freedom fighters.

To understand this better,

we have to go into Bangladesh's history.

Before independence, as you know,

Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan.

At that time, it was called East Pakistan.

And today's Pakistan was called West Pakistan.

At that time, there was rampant social discrimination against East Pakistan.

Majority of people spoke Bengali

and only less than 10% of them spoke Urdu.

But still, West Pakistan

imposed the Urdu language on East Pakistan.

Apart from this, there was economic discrimination.

59% of the country's exports came from East Pakistan,

but only 25% of the industrial investments went to East Pakistan.

In November 1970,

when Cyclone Bhola hit,

an estimated 300,000 people d!ed in East Pakistan.

One of the deadliest tropical cyclones in the last century.

"In 1970,

a massive storm swept into the Bay of Bengal,

drowning 500,000 people.

It was one of the worst natural disasters anywhere."

But West Pakistan

didn't make much effort

to provide relief to the people here.

Not only that, there was political discrimination as well.

In the 1970 elections,

East Pakistan had 162 seats

and West Pakistan had 138 seats.

People in West Pakistan voted for different political parties

but in East Pakistan,

the overwhelming majority of votes went to Awami League Party,

which was being led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

As a result of this election

the Awami League was supposed to govern both East and West Pakistan.

But the military of West Pakistan did not want this at all.

Back then, Pakistani military's Commander-in-Chief

Yahya Khan refused to accept the election result.

Martial law was imposed on East Pakistan

and in response, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

began a civil disobedience movement in protest.

"Our struggle,

is for our Independence."

At the same time, West Pakistan's military

committed large-scale atrocities against the people of East Pakistan.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested

and hundreds of thousands of people were k!lled.

There was a gen0cide in East Pakistan.

About 10 million people

had to take refuge in India.

Approximately 50% of the population of East Pakistan

was internally displaced because of this.

It was only after this that

we saw the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

This was the war where India helped

Bangladesh get freedom

under the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi.

"Mujibur Rahman, the leader of East Pakistan,

declared the region an independent republic,

which he said will be called Bangladesh,

the land of the Bengalis."

The people who fought for freedom in East Pakistan,

which made Bangladesh an independent country,

were the freedom fighters.

These freedom fighters

are relevant in the current situation

because of this quota system.

Because, friends, in Bangladesh's quota system,

30% of jobs are reserved

for the descendants of freedom fighters.

Apart from this, there are some other reservations

like 10% for women,

10% Zila Quota for backward districts,

5% reservation for ethnic minorities,

and 1% reservation is for

people with physical disabilities.

If you add up these numbers,

it becomes a total of 56% reservation.

But the majority share of this 56%

is the 30% quota for freedom fighters.

Look at this article.

A 3rd year student of 3rd studying International Relations at Dhaka University,

Fahim Farooqui,

who is also a protester,

claims that this protest is basically for the reformation of the quota system.

Protesters demand that

other than the reservation for ethnic minorities and physical disabilities,

the government should remove all other reservations.

This reservation for freedom fighters is the very interesting

one because it began in 1972,

just a year after independence.

Their Ministry of Cabinet Services

issued an order that year

to create a quota for Freedom Fighters.

Those who risked their lives,

those who fought for their country's independence,

30% jobs should be reserved for them.

It should be noted that

this was applicable only for the Freedom Fighters.

Later, in 1997,

this quota was extended to the children of freedom fighters.

And in 2010, it was said that

this quota should be extended to the grandchildren of freedom fighters too.

Although the exact quota for other categories

kept changing over the years,

in the end, the total percentage reached 56%.

After the decision to include grandchildren in 2010,

there was a big movement in Bangladesh during 2012-13,

against this quota system.

Just like India's UPSC,

the exam for Union Public Service Commission,

similarly, there is BPSC exam in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

Every year, around 400,000 graduates

compete for 3,000 civil service jobs in Bangladesh.

It's a dire situation

with the severe shortage of jobs.

In February 2018,

the Bangladesh's General Students' Rights Conservation Council,

demanded reforms in Bangladesh Government Services.

Even then, there were clashes between the students who

were against it and those who were pro-quota.

And under this pressure, in October 2018, Bangladesh's government,

issued a circular that

the quota system will be removed for first and second-class jobs.

The matter would have ended here,

but in 2021,

7 students from Freedom Fighters' families

filed a petition in the High Court against the removal of this quota system.

And on 5th June, 2024, that is, last month,

the High Court decided that

the petitioners' agruments were valid.

The government circular was declared illegal

and the quota system was reintroduced.

This was the reason why protests rekindled all over the country.

The protesting students claim that this quota is unconstitutional.

Nowhere in the original constitution was it written that

the future generations of freedom fighters would have reservations for jobs.

And anyway, does it make any sense?

It is understandable to give a reservation to freedom fighters

because they fought for the country's freedom.

But extending the reservation to their grandchildren simply because

their grandparents were freedom fighters.

But the matter does not end here.

There have been allegations of corruption in the guise of reservation.

Actually, who will decide

whether someone was a freedom fighter or not?

The government has kept this responsibility with itself.

The government will decide who was a freedom fighter.

For the past 15 years, the ruling party in Bangladesh has been,

the Awami League, with Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister.

This is the same political party

that fought for Bangladesh's independence.

The protesters claim that

the reservation for the freedom fighters

disproportionately benefits the people of the Awami League.

The names of the freedom fighters who have been included in the list,

at least 60,000 objections have been raised against those names.

And these objections have not been resolved by the government.

On July 10, this matter reached the Supreme Court

the government approached the Supreme Court to appeal against the High Court's order.

The Supreme Court imposed a stay on the High Court's order,

but the protests didn't stop.

Apart from students and teachers,

opposition parties of Bangladesh join in.

Like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

To confront the protesters,

more than 7,000 paramilitary troops were called.

Police use tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades.

The United Nations Secretary-General issued a statement that

the government should refrain from using threats or violence against the protestors.

Apart from this,

there were clashes between the protesters and the Bangladesh's Student League,

which is the student wing of the Awami League Party.

Both sides blame each other.

The Law Minister of the government said that

the government is willing to talk with the protesters.

They claim that they are trying to get an early hearing in the Supreme Court

so that the final order could be passed as soon as possible.

Students raise slogans outside Dhaka University

that we won't let their brothers' blood go to waste.

Under pressure, the government formed a Judicial Probe Committee

to investigate the incidents of violence.

The General Secretary of the Awami League says that

the government will not interfere in the quotas.

And everyone should wait for the Supreme Court's decision.

But the main group of protesters,

Students Against Discrimination,

doubts the government's intentions.

They say that the Prime Minister did not say anything

about the mu₹ders committed by her party's activists.

Amidst this tense situation,

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave some irresponsible remarks.

She twisted the facts and asks

why do the protesters hate the freedom fighters?

If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters do not get the reservation benefits,

will the grandchildren of the 'Razakars' be given benefits?

Not only Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

but also her Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni

and State Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Arafat,

made similar statements about Razakars.

What does Razakar mean?

Friends, 'Razakar' is a Persian word

which means volunteer or helper.

But in the war of 1971,

Razakar Bahini was a paramilitary group

which was supporting the army of West Pakistan.

On the other hand was Mukti Bahini

fighting for the freedom of Bangladesh.

In this Razakar Bahini, there were about 50,000 people who

supported the West Pakistan army

and in the atrocities committed against the people of East Pakistan

they encouraged them and even took part in them.

In 1973, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government was formed,

he introduced the International Crimes Tribunal Act

to find and punish these Razakars.

Anthropologist Nayanika Mukherjee notes that

around 37,000 volunteers were identified.

Around 26,000 of them were pardoned by the government

and the remaining were punished.

They were imprisoned or their trial is still going on.

Some trials were so long that even in 2022,

6 members of the Razakar Bahini were sentenced to de@th

for crimes against humanity.

So, friends, by now, you can understand the points raised.

In Bangladesh, the word 'Razakar' means treacherous and anti-national.

And if someone is protesting against the government because of this reservation,

does it make sense to call them a traitor?

No, it doesn't.

It's the same old strategy where

if the government doesn't like people criticising them,

then they are declared a traitor.

But the truth is,

as American author and activist Edward Abbey had written,

"a patriot must be ready to defend his country against his government."

A true patriot

defends his country even from his government.

Democracy doesn't only mean that

you go to vote once every 5 years.

Democracy is a dynamic system

where people should be politically aware.

People should continue to hold the government accountable

and keep monitoring if the government is doing the right thing or not.

And if needed,

they should be able to oppose the government.

PM Sheikh Hasina's comment on these protestors,

is a clear-cut example of the straw man fallacy.

This means that you are presenting the other's argument in a wrong way

by distorting it.

If the protesters say that they are against the reservation

given to the granddaughters of freedom fighters,

how does it mean that

they are disrespecting the freedom fighters?

When PM Sheikh Hasina's government removed this reservation in 2018,

was she also disrespecting the freedom fighters?

Such low-level argument

does not suit a Prime Minister.

I request Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

to keep it respectful.

The demand of the protesters is not unreasonable.

But now, on this topic, friends,

let's listen to the nonsense of our Indian media.

In a TV program on Aaj Tak, Sudhir Chaudhary

labelled the students' protests to be foreign-funded.

While speaking whatever he could dream of, he said that

America and other western countries are behind this.

"Countries like America

keep provoking these riots from behind with remote control.

Because the western countries like America,

join hands with the opposition parties of other countries."

He shared an infographic,

that showed a 10% reservation for residents of developing districts.

This word clearly means 'developing.'

Whereas Bangladesh has given a 10% quota to the residents of backward districts.

And after this, Sudhir says that

some students from West Bengal are supporting these protests

while these students want reservation in our country.

How is this possible?

"Another shocking news is that

in support of this movement in Bangladesh,

there are protests in West Bengal as well.

These leftist students,

who want reservation in government jobs in India,

are supporting those riots in Bangladesh,

which are for the removal of reservations in government jobs.

Such hypocrisy."

I don't understand whether so-called journalists like Sudhir Chaudhary

really have a weak reasoning power

or do they deliberately mislead the public?

First, in their programs they claim that

the reservations in India is based on caste.

Whereas in Bangladesh, it is based on other criteria.

"They don't have reservations based on caste or religion.

Their reservation is different."

So what is the point of this comparison?

In India, the reservation is given to

so-called 'lower caste' people

who have faced historical discrimination.

But not only historically,

even today,

we witness caste atrocities.

In Rajasthan, a Dalit named Jitendra Pal Meghwal

was k!lled merely because he had a moustache.

See this news article on Aaj Tak's website.

In Gujarat, the Dalit groom was not allowed to mount a mare.

Stones were thrown because the groom's side wore turbans.

An 8 year old boy touched a bucket of water

so he was brutally beaten.

And where did this happen?

In school.

The Sikh religion was based on the principles of egalitarianism

meaning everyone is equal, and there's no place for casteism.

But today, even in Punjab,

there are separate gurudwaras for dalit Sikhs.

And according to these pro-government journalists blinded by privileges,

there is no casteism in our country.

According to them, positive affirmative action like reservation is not required.

Everything's well.

I will say only this to them.

Why don't you talk about ending casteism?

Why don't you talk about ending caste-based crime?

These advertisements printed on newspapers,

people looking for "Brahmin girl," "Rajput girl,"

"Jat," or "Baniya"

these caste-based matrimonial advertisements,

why aren't these banned?

Look at this matrimonial ad.

It even says that there is no restriction on caste.

But the person should not be SC, ST, or OBC.

The day we end this caste discrimination,

the caste reservation will automatically end.

But these journalists who try to appease the government

will compare India's caste reservation

to Bangladesh's Freedom Fighter reservation.

The reservations in India

is to uplift the socially and economically deprived classes to the same level.

But the Bangladeshi reservation for the descendants of Freedom Fighters

is not a separate ethnic minority.

They weren't being oppressed for thousands of years.

In fact, they are the socially respected section of the country.

If any of them is economically weak,

then there can be a 5-10% EWS quota for them.

On 21st July, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh said the same thing.

That the Freedom Fighter descendants quota

should be reduced to only 5%.

And the other quotas for ethnic minorities, transgenders, and disabled people

should be reduced to 2%,

so that the total reservation is limited to only 7%.

Now, I personally believe that

the protests against reservation in Bangladesh

are just the symptom

here, the real disease is

unemployment.

Like India,

unemployment has become a huge problem in Bangladesh.

Public Administration Minister Farad Hussain told the Parliament

in February that

more than 500,000 jobs were vacant in their country.

But even if they are filled up,

it won't be enough.

Bangladesh's Bureau of Statistics data shows that

1.8 to 1.9 young people

join the job market every year.

In the country of 170 million people,

the working population is around two-thirds,

around 110 million.

30 million of these 110 million people are unemployed.

Bangladesh's economy is in a bad shape.

The foreign exchange reserves of the country are running low.

In 2022, Bangladesh asked for help from the International Monetary Fund

to rebuild its foreign exchange reserves.

Recently, they were planning

to take a loan of $5 billion from China.

Now, it's a different matter that

whenever a country takes loan from China,

its problems are never solved.

Instead, it creates a new problem.

China's debt diplomacy,

which was seen in Sri Lanka.

Apart from this, the inflation rates are high too at 9%.

The expenses are increasing but people do not have jobs.

Improving the reservation system is only the first step.

If they want a long-term solution,

the government needs to focus on job creation.

Apart from these economic struggles,

questions have been raised on Sheikh Hasina's political moves too.

In January, she won her 4th consecutive term,

but there were accusations of electoral rigging.

In this protest, there were posters and slogans

that called her a dictator.

Like this slogan,

"Who are you? Who am I?

Razakar! Razakar!

Who says? Who says?

The Dictator! The Dictator!"

It means, "Who are we supposed to be?

The oppressors, the Razakar.

And who said this?

The dictator did."

I hope that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

will be able to understand the problems of her country's people

and will be able to take a positive approach here.

If you liked this video,

I have made a detailed video on Bangladesh's history

about what exactly happened in the war of 1971.

You can click here to watch it.

Thank you very much!