New Delhi: India Thursday published an advisory for its citizens in Bangladesh, advising them to “minimise” movement outside their residences, following the outbreak of violence and protests in the last 48 hours across the country. At least six protesters have been killed and countless injured in clashes with the police in parts of Bangladesh.
“In view of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Indian community members and the Indian students residing in Bangladesh are advised to avoid local travel and minimise their movement outside their living premises,” said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on X (formerly Twitter).
The large-scale protests are the first major challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after returning to power for a fourth term in January 2024.
The protests – mainly by students – are over a 30 per cent quota for families of freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
In 2018, the Sheikh Hasina government scrapped the quota, following similar large-scale student protests across the country.
The Bangladesh High Court last month ruled against the 2018 government order scrapping the quota, thereby restoring it. This led to protests across the country. The Hasina government has appealed to the Supreme Court against the high court order and a hearing date has been set for 7 August.
The protestors claim that the 30 per cent reservations for families of freedom fighters in government jobs unfairly benefit supporters of Sheikh Hasina and her party, the Awami League.
The Awami League, then led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – the father of Sheikh Hasina – played a pivotal role in the freedom movement of Bangladesh.
The government Wednesday ordered closure of all schools and colleges in light of the protests. Student protesters also faced counter-protests led by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) – the student wing of the ruling Awami League. The two groups violently clashed with one another using weapons such as sticks and bricks, local media reported.
The violent clashes resulted in three protesters being killed in Chittagong, two in Dhaka and one individual in the Northern city of Rangpur.
While protests have been ongoing since the High Court order, violence only broke out earlier this week.
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‘Terrorists’ behind violence
Hasina addressed the nation Wednesday evening and promised a judicial inquiry into the violence, while promising support to the next of kin of those killed.
“It is a matter of sorrow that some vested quarters started making different kinds of statements and engaged in terrorist activities to gain their ambitious intentions centring on this movement. As the matter has been brought before the top court, I call upon all to keep patience,” said the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, as reported by Dhaka Tribune.
Sheikh Hasina added: “It is a matter of great regret that some quarters took the opportunity of this movement to get involved in terrorist acts aiming to fulfil their unexpected high ambitions. As a result, all the incidents centred on the movement of these young students were very painful and sad.”
The ruling government has blamed opposition parties including the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, for the violence, according to BBC News.
The protesters have also referred to themselves as Razakars, co-opting the term they believe Hasina referred to them as.
The term is derived from ‘Razakar Bahini’, a paramilitary volunteer force set up by the Pakistani government in 1971 that allegedly committed war crimes against civilians, especially Bangladeshi Hindus in what was then East Pakistan.
Hasina, according to local media reports, described the usage of the term by protesters as “regrettable”.
International organisations and countries have also taken note of the protests. The US has urged the government to ensure the right to peaceful protest while Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the authorities to “engage” with student protesters and to “investigate” all acts of violence and hold the perpetrators to justice.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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