Bangladesh Students Continue to Defy Government Orders Amid Severe National Financial Crisis
Indian, US and Nepalese Embassies Issue Warning to Respective Citizens
Special Report :
In response to a nationwide student-called shutdown that has led to violent clashes and additional fatalities, the government has ordered a nationwide shutdown of its mobile internet network, announced state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak. Tragically, the crackdown by police, backed by ruling party activists, has resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and counting.
The US Embassy in Dhaka announced it will be closed to the general public on Thursday due to ongoing unrest and advised its personnel to limit their movements to the diplomatic enclave. It warned US citizens to avoid demonstrations, exercise caution near large gatherings, review personal security plans, and monitor local news for updates. Similarly, the Indian Embassy in Dhaka urged Indian nationals, including students, to avoid non-essential travel and minimize movement outside their residences amidst the escalating anti-quota protests. The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has issued an advisory for Nepali students in Bangladesh to stay indoors and follow their university and college administrations’ instructions due to recent violent protests against a government job quota system, which resulted in six deaths and numerous injuries. The embassy also urged students to contact them if their accommodations become unsafe and assured that they are closely monitoring the situation while coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Nepali students.
In a dramatic standoff that has gripped the nation, students across the country are defying government orders to vacate university campuses, leading to violent clashes with police and government-backed student groups. The protests, centered around opposition to a controversial quota system for government jobs, have left six people dead and hundreds injured, primarily in the nation’s university campuses.
The quota system in question reserves 56% of government jobs for various groups, including descendants of those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Students argue that this system is discriminatory and favors the ruling Awami League, which has deep roots in the independence movement.
In response to escalating violence, the government ordered all schools and colleges to shut down. However, students have refused to leave, occupying key areas on campuses. At Dhaka University, hundreds of police and paramilitary officers have been deployed near the vice chancellor’s residence, where students continue to demand the withdrawal of the police and a reversal of the university’s shutdown.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government faces mounting criticism for its handling of the protests. The Prime Minister’s comments branding student protesters as “grandchildren of collaborators of the 1971 war” have further inflamed tensions. Critics argue that this rhetoric is both historically inaccurate and politically damaging, as only a small fraction of the population were collaborators.
Following a recent downward revision of national export figures by over USD 10 billion, accounting for 20% of the total, the country’s forex reserves remain low at around USD 13 billion. Meanwhile, foreign debt has skyrocketed to approximately USD 120 billion, and domestic non-performing loans stand at around USD 40 billion. In this context, the ongoing student uprising against freedom fighter quotas could inflict lasting damage on the economy.
As the standoff continues, the future of Bangladesh’s higher education institutions remains uncertain but more importantly it is hurting Bangladesh’s already fragile economy that is under am IMF supervision and assistance program. The students’ refusal to vacate campuses despite government orders underscores their determination to see their demands met. The government’s next moves will be crucial in determining whether the situation escalates further or finds a path to resolution.