Why deadly protests are roiling Bangladesh

NEW DELHI – Student demonstrations in Bangladesh that began in July demanding an overhaul of how government jobs are distributed have morphed into a direct challenge of the country’s leader, with tens of thousands taking to the streets and authorities taking an increasingly harsh response.

On Aug 4, nearly 100 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, in what appears to be the deadliest day since the protests began in July.

The demonstrations were initially peaceful. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s increasingly authoritarian leader, deployed police and paramilitary forces against the students in the later half of July, a crackdown that set off broader public anger against her.

The protests became increasingly violent as more students as well as other citizens joined, clashing with pro-government supporters and authorities.

More than 200 people were killed in the crackdown in July by security forces. After a curfew and communication blackout eased, the revival of the protests over the weekend, in addition to a call by Ms Hasina’s party for its own supporters to take to the streets, has plunged Bangladesh into a particularly dangerous phase.

Protesters have called for a mass march on Aug 5 on the residence of Hasina, whose resignation they are demanding.

Here’s what to know about the protests.

How did the protests start?

Students at the University of Dhaka, the country’s top institution, started the demonstrations July 1, and they later spread to other elite universities, and then to the general public. The protests turned violent when some members of the student wing of the governing party, the Awami League, began attacking the protesters.

Besides sending police and paramilitaries into the streets, including an anti-terrorism unit, the government locked down schools and colleges.

Officials said they slowed down internet connectivity to stop the spread of rumours and protect citizens, making it harder for protesters to organise and make plans via social media platforms. Police have used rubber bullets, sound grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds. But the protests continue.

The protests were initially about coveted government jobs and who is entitled to them. An old quota system, reinstated recently by the courts, reserves more than half of those jobs for various groups, including the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

The students said that the system is unfair and that most of the positions should be filled based on merit. They consider it an urgent demand in a country where the pace of job creation, according to a World Bank report, has slowed in recent years. Bangladesh is one of the world’s least developed countries.

How have the protests evolved?

The crackdown in late July, which saw over 200 people killed and 10,000 arrested, temporarily dispersed the protesters.

However, the large number of deaths also fuelled protesters’ anger, after a curfew and communication blackout was eased, the demonstrations have been back in full force since Aug 2.

Over the weekend, the tensions spread away from protests and into clashes across the country that appeared difficult to contain.

At a rally of tens of thousands on Aug 3, protesters called for the resignation of Ms Hasina, who has been in power for the past 15 years.

In response, Ms Hasina’s Awami League party called on its supporters to join counter protests, and she asked the country’s people “to curb anarchists with iron hands”.

The government has imposed another curfew, with police officials saying they will stop any gathering. Offices, including courts and banks, are shut. Mobile internet has been blocked and cellular communication restricted.

As the chaos escalates, the country’s powerful military may help determine what happens next. NYTIMES