Rashi Mehta
Around six students were killed and hundreds were injured on Tuesday by paramilitary forces to keep up the order after violent protests by students. Students from Dhaka University in Bangladesh, marched towards Shahbagh in the capital, demanding the abolition of the quota system.
Protests started out first in university campuses, a fortnight ago as ten thousands marched against the reinstatement of the government quotas system, as they feel that the quota system is discriminatory and unfair to them.
Status quo of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is in massive violence as thousands of students raised their voices against the unreasonable quota system by the government. Student groups across the country attacked each other with sticks and bricks while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to have control over the situation.
“ We blame the BCL members for the violence. They killed the protesters. Police didn’t intervene to save the ordinary students” statement by an activist.
Additionally, the government responded by shutting down the schools and universities till further notice to safeguard students.
Reason behind the massive violence
As we already know government jobs are the most sought-after jobs by every candidate whether from government or private universities, however, the students feel that the quotas don’t allow the deserving candidates to get them. Although quotas that reserved 30% of jobs of veterans who fought in the war for independence in 1971 were withdrawn, in 2018 it was reinstated, creating a rage among the students as they demand that seats should be given in merit- based systems.
Moreover, the other reason for amplifying the fury of students is due to the recent comments of Ms Hasina, calling them razakar- a term highly used for those who allegedly collaborated with Pakistan during 1971 war.
“They want to suppress our voices through creating a reign of terror in the country. If I don’t protest today, they will beat me another day. That’s why I’m on the streets to protest,” said a female student.
Quota system in Bangladesh
In 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman introduced the quota system by reserving the seats for the children and of people who fought in 1971 war against Pakistan.
Under the system, 44% of first and second class government jobs are ‘merit based’ while the remaining 56% are reserved for specific communities.
The reservation is for the grandchildren, children, women, backward districts, ethnic minorities and lastly for the people with physical disabilities.
As per analysis more than half of the seats are reserved and 30% are the majority that is reserved for the children of freedom fighters while 1% is minority reserved for people with physical disabilities.
“Our protest is not against the quota system. It is instead for the reformation of the system” by Faruki
Meritocracy vs Reservation
Meritocracy is one the guiding principles which ensures that the seat is given to the one who is the brightest and best deserving the position regardless of the race, color, religion and socioeconomic background. On the contrary, reservations are said to be affirmative actions, used to ease the social tension and economic problems between the two groups- the privileged and the underprivileged.
The Young students from Bangladesh have started raising questions about the traditional system of quotas and demanding reforms to the system. They don’t want complete abolishment but want the government to reinstate the conventional system for the betterment of both groups without putting their future at stake.
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