Why Are Bangladesh Students Protesting Against Job Quotas?
In Bangladesh, recent protests by students against the government’s job quota system have turned violent, resulting in at least six deaths and hundreds of injuries. The unrest began after the High Court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, reversing a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to abolish it.
The quota system, first introduced in 1972, has undergone several changes over the years. Before its abolition in 2018, 56% of government jobs were reserved for various groups. This included 30% for family members of freedom fighters from the 1971 independence war, as well as allocations for women, residents of underdeveloped districts, indigenous communities, and the disabled. The recent court decision to reinstate the quotas reignited student protests, reminiscent of...