Renewed Protests Erupt in Bangladesh Amidst Government Crackdown
Fresh waves of protests are sweeping across Bangladesh, reigniting just a few weeks after a violent government crackdown effectively dismantled a burgeoning student movement. Initially sparked by demonstrations against a controversial preferential quota system for public-sector jobs, the protests quickly expanded to reflect broader discontent with the government’s policies and actions.
In a bid to quell last month’s protests, which began peacefully but escalated into violence following attacks on students, the government resorted to severe measures. Authorities detained numerous student leaders, rounded up approximately 10,000 individuals, and accused tens of thousands more of serious offenses such as arson and vandalism.
The situation was temporarily subdued by imposing a curfew and implementing a communication blackout. However, a recent court ruling on the quota system granted students a notable concession, yet the government’s crackdown has seemingly intensified public outrage rather than extinguish it. The protests have resumed, fueled by demands for accountability regarding the deaths of over 200 individuals during the crackdown, marking the most significant challenge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has encountered during her 15-year tenure.
“There’s a storm inside my chest,” chanted a gathering of protesters near Dhaka College on Saturday. “I’ve bared my chest, go ahead and shoot.” This powerful expression of defiance reflects the deep-seated anger and frustration felt by many citizens.
Salimullah Khan, a university professor who has actively participated in the resumed protests, articulated the prevailing sentiments of the crowd: “There is palpable anger over the killings, and a profound mistrust in the authorities who orchestrated the crackdown to deliver any form of justice.”
