Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused her political opponents of instigating the recent deadly unrest in the country and stated that the imposition of a curfew was a measure taken out of necessity for public safety. During a meeting with business leaders in Dhaka, she expressed regret about having to impose the curfew but assured that it would be lifted as soon as conditions improved.
Her remarks follow a decision by Bangladesh's top court to abolish most quotas for government jobs, a move that has led to weeks of violent protests. The clashes between demonstrators and police have resulted in over 150 deaths and have escalated into widespread calls for Hasina's resignation. The prime minister has placed the blame on the main opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, along with their student organizations. She asserted that her government is committed to suppressing these groups to restore order.
Political analysts view the ongoing unrest as a significant challenge for Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for four consecutive terms following a controversial election in January, which was boycotted by major opposition parties. Mubashar Hasan, a research fellow at the University of Oslo, critiqued Hasina's administration, noting that its excessive politicization and denial of democratic rights have provoked widespread discontent. Hasan argued that Hasina has failed to represent the entire nation and instead caters only to a specific faction.
The court ruling on 21 July, which reduced the reserved quota for government jobs from 30% to 5% for the relatives of Bangladesh's 1971 war veterans, has triggered renewed protests. The system, previously abolished by Hasina's government in 2018 but reinstated by the court in June, was criticized by students who argued that it unfairly benefits pro-government groups and called for a merit-based recruitment system instead.
Initially dismissing the protestors' grievances, Hasina's remarks on 14 July, defending the quota system by highlighting the divide between pro-liberation and anti-liberation forces, further fueled the unrest. Her comments led to even larger protests, with thousands of students taking to the streets of Dhaka and other cities. The violence included the burning of state broadcaster BTV and other properties, resulting in around 500 arrests. In response, the authorities have deployed the military, imposed a nationwide curfew, and suspended mobile internet and text messaging services for at least five days to control the situation.
Student leaders have vowed to continue their protests, demanding justice for those killed or detained, the resignation of government officials, and an apology from Hasina.