Credits: Philstar
Rival student groups in Bangladesh clashed on Monday, resulting in at least 100 injuries, as demonstrators opposing quotas for government jobs battled with counter-protesters loyal to the ruling Awami League party, according to police.
The violent confrontation took place on Dhaka University campus, where hundreds of anti-quota protesters and pro-government students fought for hours, hurling rocks, wielding sticks, and beating each other with iron rods. Witnesses reported that some participants carried machetes and threw petrol bombs.
The quota system in question reserves more than half of the highly sought-after civil service positions for specific groups, including the children of heroes from Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war from Pakistan.
“They clashed with sticks and threw rocks at each other,” said Mostajirur Rahman, the local police station chief, to AFP. Police inspector Masud Mia confirmed that around 100 students, including women, were injured and taken to hospitals. “More people are coming,” he added.
Protests against the quota system began earlier this month, with students demanding a merit-based system. Despite the country’s top court suspending the quota scheme, the protests have continued. Anti-quota protesters blamed students loyal to the ruling party for instigating the violence.
“They attacked our peaceful procession with rods, sticks, and rocks,” said Nahid Islam, national coordinator of the anti-quota protests. “They beat our female protesters. At least 150 students were injured, including 30 women, and the conditions of 20 students are serious.”
Critics argue that the quota system disproportionately benefits children of pro-government groups who support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, who secured her fourth consecutive general election victory in January, has faced criticism for the lack of genuine opposition in the vote and a crackdown on political opponents.
Injured student Shahinur Shumi, 26, recounted the sudden attack from her hospital bed. “We were holding our procession peacefully,” she said. “Suddenly, the Chhatra League (the ruling party student wing) attacked us with sticks, machetes, iron rods, and bricks.”
Hundreds of students from various private universities joined the protests in Dhaka, causing a four-hour traffic halt near the US embassy. Deputy police commissioner Hasanuzzaman Molla confirmed that around 200 students blocked the road, shouting anti-quota slogans.
Protests continued into the night at several universities, with thousands of students marching against what they perceived as disparaging comments from Prime Minister Hasina. Protesters claimed they were likened to collaborators of the Pakistani army during the independence war, a comparison they found unacceptable.
In Bangladesh’s second city, Chittagong, violence also erupted during protests on Sunday night. Khan Talat Mahmud Rafy, an organizer, reported that two fellow protesters were injured in an attack by Chhatra League activists.
Students are demanding that quotas supporting ethnic minorities and disabled people, which make up six percent of jobs, should remain, but the rest should be abolished.
While Bangladesh has seen significant economic growth, averaging more than six percent annually since 2009, much of this progress has been driven by the garment export industry, primarily staffed by a female workforce. Economists highlight an acute job crisis for millions of university graduates in the country.