2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement

The 2024 Quota Reform Movement is an ongoing anti-government protest in Bangladesh, spearheaded by the students of public and private universities. Initially focused on restructuring the traditional quota-based system for government job recruitment, the movement expanded after the government brutally killed over a hundred protestors. This resulted in a widespread protest against the government, mobilizing a significant number of youths and the general population.

The protest, which initially began as a response to the quota system and was confined to university campuses, quickly spread throughout the entire country because of the government's heavy-handed violent response, as well as the public's dissatisfaction stemming from enduring oppression under what many perceive as an authoritarian government. The situation was further complicated by several other ongoing issues, like - the government's inability to manage a prolonged economic downturn and the absence of democratic channels for initiating change. The Awami League government accused the protest of being hijacked by political opponents seeking to destabilize the country. The government attempted to suppress the protest by closing all educational institutions, using their student wing - the Chhatra League - against the protestors, deploying police and border guards, and ultimately declaring a nationwide shoot-at-sight curfew. The army was deployed across the country, amid an unprecedented nationwide internet blackout that has effectively isolated Bangladesh from the rest of the world till now. Varied numbers of deaths have been reported. According to Reuters, as of July 20, the death toll is at least 114, with many students among the casualties.

Background
After the High Court verdict was published on 5 June 2024, students of various universities in Dhaka united to demand quota reform. After the movement was initially started, it was postponed due to Eid and summer holidays. After the holidays, the agitation started again peacefully but gradually became widespread. Initially the students and teachers of public universities including University of Dhaka, Jagannath University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Jahangirnagar University, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Comilla University, Islamic University and other educational institutions joined the movement. Later, the students of private universities including North South University, Independent University Bangladesh, BRAC University, American International University-Bangladesh, United International University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Southeast University and Varendra University also followed suit by joining the public demonstration. Under the banner of Anti-discrimination Students' Movement, students started the Bangla Blockade. During the movement, the Appellate Division issued a status quo for four weeks on 10 July, cancelling the freedom fighter quota. Reacting to the court verdict, the students said they are seeking a final solution to the quota issue from the government, claiming the movement has nothing to do with the court. The protest also affected the domestic train and road transportation networks.

The protests started in response to a verdict by the High Court division on 5 June 2024, which declared the 2018 government circular cancelling the 30% quota for freedom fighters' descendants in government jobs, illegal. The circular was issued in the wake of the 2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement.

After the court decision, online activism started against the verdict, along with calls for "another 2018". Initial protests were staged in early-June, mainly concentrated in the capital Dhaka, but were later discontinued due to Eid-ul-Adha and summer holidays. After the holiday, peaceful demonstrations by the students restarted on 1 July, while public university teachers declared a strike protesting the new Universal Pension Scheme, causing universities to close. Demonstrations spread nationwide as the movement became headed by a newly organised Boishommobirodhee Chhatro Andolon (বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলন, lit. 'Anti-discrimination Students' Movement'), an umbrella organisation for the student protesters. On 7 July, protestors started the nationwide Bangla Blockade, organising traffic and rail obstruction with demonstrations in major cities and metropolises such as Dhaka, Chittagong, Cumilla, Jessore, Rangpur and Rajshahi. While the Appellate Division ordered a four-week status quo regarding the quota on 10 July, protests continued and demanded a solution from the government. Protests turned violent for the first time the next day as the police clashed with the students. On 14 July, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made controversial remarks, escalating the situation. On 15 July, the ruling Awami League solidified its stance against the demonstrations, and the protestors met violent suppression from the Chhatra League, leaving several hundred injured.

Demands
The Anti-discrimination Students' Movement has put forward the following demands to the government:
 * Cancellation of the existing quota system for government jobs.
 * Provision of the quota at fair rates to minority groups and disabled people.
 * Passing a new law in the parliament which establishes a new quota system for a maximum of 5% of total jobs.

5 June – 9 July
On 5 June, the High Court reinstated the job quota that reserves 30% of the civil service posts for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters in the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Six universities performed peaceful protests against the quota ruling.

Due to the Eid ul Adha vacation, the protest calmed down, until the holiday ended.

On 7 July, students staged a blockade, and demanded the rescinding of the quota.

10 July
In University of Dhaka at approximately 11:00 AM, a protest march commenced in front of the library, passed by the Raju Memorial Sculpture, and culminated in the blockage of the Shahbagh intersection. Members of the law and order forces positioned barricades in front of the students. In the afternoon, it is known that the status quo has been given for four weeks in the judgement given by the High Court cancelling the quota system. The Chief Justice asked the students to go back. Dhaka's transport system came to a standstill due to the blockade in various parts of Dhaka. Long-distance buses were stopped due to the agitation.

Police attacked protesting students of Comilla University.

11 July
The blockade in Shahbagh was supposed to start from 03:00 PM but due to rain, the students crossed the police barricade on their way to Shahbagh and started at 04:30 PM. Dhaka College students retreated due to police barricades and Dhaka University students joined the students of Jagannath University at Shahbagh. Apart from Shahbagh, other places in Dhaka were unaffected by the movement. At 09:00 PM, the students ended their agitation and announced a protest march and rally on 12 July to protest the police attack on them.

12 July
At 05:00 PM, students gathered at Shahbagh and staged a blockade.

While students were protesting at Comilla Victoria College, a group of Chhatra League members launched an attack. During the situation, a student who was recording a video was taken to a hall and beaten by the Chhatra League members.

13 July
Students protested by blocking the railway tracks in Rajshahi. In Dhaka, DU students held a press conference in the evening, where they complained that attempts were being made to block the students' movement with lawsuits.

14 July
Students marched in Dhaka and held a sit-in protest and blockade, later submitting a memorandum to President Mohammed Sahabuddin.

In response to the controversial statement allegedly made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh during a press conference, where she reportedly referred to students protesting the quota reform movement as the children of Rajakars (traitors in the 1971 Independence War), students organized a midnight demonstration at the Dhaka University campus area. Female students from Rokeya Hall joined the protest by breaking the lock put up by the authorities at the dorm gate.

The government instructed operators to shut down the 4G network in the University of Dhaka area. At around 11:30 PM, leaders and members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked protesters at the University of Chittagong injuring 13 protesters.

15 July
The attacks against the protesters began soon after the ruling Awami League general secretary said on Monday that the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, was ready to give a fitting reply to quota protesters for their ‘arrogant behaviour.’

In Jessore at around 12:00 pm, students from Jessore University of Science and Technology and Michael Madhusudan College staged a protest, where a member of the Chhatra League attacked and injured a protester.

In Dhaka, Members of the Chhatra League started their procession to Shahbagh from Segunbagicha near Motsho Bhobon at around 03:45 PM.

Later in the evening, Chhatra League members attacked students inside Bijoy Ekattor Hall of Dhaka University, where some of the attackers were seen shooting with pistols and carrying sticks. In response, the protesters also threw brickbats from the inside of the hall to retaliate. While covering the protest in the University of Dhaka, two journalists from The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were assaulted and injured in the attack carried out by the Chhatra League.

At 5:30 pm, members of the Chhatra League attempted to attack the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where over 200 students injured in the clashes were seeking treatment. After several attempts throughout the afternoon, Chhatra League members, some wearing helmets, forcibly entered DMCH around 7:30 PM and initiated an attack. Many were observed carrying rods and Chinese axes. They targeted students already injured in the quota reform movement and vandalized several ambulances parked at DMCH.

Later the same evening, an attack carried out by the Chhatra League Rajshahi branch at Rajshahi University left six students injured, including the joint convenor of the Bangladesh Students Union at RU.

In Comilla, The CoU coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement was assaulted at around 8:00 pm when eight Chhatra League members called him to check his phone and beat him.

The protesters called for nation-wide demonstrations and rallies in all educational institutions of the country at 03:00 pm on 16 July.

16 July
At around 12:15 am, members of the Chhatra League attacked Jahangirnagar University students using firearms. The students took shelter at the vice-chancellor's residence after breaking its lock. Around 300 Chhatra League members, armed with GI pipes and sticks, threw bricks and glass bottles at the students. Shots were reportedly fired, injuring two journalists, including one from Dhaka Tribune and over 50 student protesters.

Police arrived to control the situation, while both groups positioned themselves outside the vice-chancellor's residence. Students claimed the attackers included outsiders, some in their forties. Later on, the sub-inspector of the Ashulia Police Department instead decided to blame the students by stating that the protesters are to blame for causing "this mayhem".

A violent incident involving police and students demanding quota reforms took place in front of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM. Police resorted to lathi charges and firing during the incident. According to Dr. Md. Yunus Ali, Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, a Begum Rokeya University student named Abu Sayed died after being brought to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

At around 3:30 PM, it was reported that in the Farmgate–Khamabari area, Chhatra League assailants attacked protestors with sticks. When the protestors took shelter in the Farmgate metro station, the assailants entered and started to beat the students, which was witnessed by passengers. Police were allegedly deployed to control the situation. However, DMTCL, the authority responsible for the operation for the Dhaka Metro Rail, denied these claims and stated that guards of the station drove the "miscreants" away as they entered with bamboo sticks. They also stated that there was no damage to the station. However, they announced plans to close some of the gates of the station complex for some time to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

As students at public universities were forcefully vacated, students from various schools, colleges, and private universities joined the cause. They protested and blocked roads against the violence of the Chhatra League in the quota reform movement, including Notre Dame College, Dhaka Residential Model College, RAJUK Uttara Model College, Adamjee Cantonment College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Ideal School and College, Ideal College, Dhaka City College, BAF Shaheen College Dhaka, BAF Shaheen College Kurmitola, Birshrestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Birshrestha Munshi Abdur Rauf Public College, PrimeAsia University, United International University, BRAC University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dania College, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, State University of Bangladesh, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology, Daffodil International University, North South University, American International University Bangladesh, Independent University, Bangladesh, Eastern University, City University, East West University, Southeast University, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, Manarat International University and many others.

Students of North South University, Independent University Bangladesh and BRAC University protested at and around their respective premises areas at Bashundhara Residential Area and Merul Badda with the blockade set up by the students extending up to Baridhara, the streets in front of the Jamuna Future Park mall, the largest mall in the country, Notun Bazar, Badda, and Kuril, causing gridlock to its neighbouring areas as well, including Rampura, Banasree, Badda Link Road and Abul Hotel area in Malibagh. Students of Primeasia University blocked the Banani area. Students of Notre Dame College protested in the country's main financial hub and the largest central business district of Motijheel at Shapla Square. Students of Daffodil International University also made an attempt to start a demonstration at the road, but instead protested on-campus. Students of other universities and colleges also joined the protests. Protests also took place in Dhanmondi, specifically in front of the Science Laboratory area and in Uttara. Gridlocks were also experienced at places like Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Mirpur Road, and Gabtoli.

Students blocked railway lines in Chattogram and Mohakhali. The Dhaka–Chattogram, Dhaka–Barisal, Dhaka–Rajshahi and Dhaka–Tangail highways were also blocked.

In the evening, the Ministry of Education announced the indefinite closure of schools and colleges and the postponing of the HSC exam scheduled for 18 July.

The UGC declared that all public and private universities across the country will remain closed until further notice. At the same time, all affiliated medical, textile, engineering and other colleges will also remain closed. The commission also directed university authorities to vacate residential halls allegedly considering safety of the students.

In remembrance of the fallen, the movement announced a symbolic funeral prayer scheduled for July 17.

17 July
Clashes erupted with police after the funeral prayer program organized by the BNP and other parties to honor six individuals killed on 16 July for the quota reform movement.

The government ordered all students to vacate the residential halls. The protestors rejected the order, to which the authorities deployed police to evacuate the halls. Students who blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway announced a total shutdown for 18 July, allowing only emergency services, to protest police violence, demand justice for the deceased, and call for a terror-free campus.

PM Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation at 7:30 pm, where she announced a judicial probe into the deaths during the anti-quota protests and urged patience until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict, emphasizing justice for the students and condemning the violence.

18 July
In the morning police clashed with BRAC University students on the streets of Badda. Police also charged batons and fired tear gas canisters at the students and lobedb tear gas shells at the BRACU campus. Reports indicated that approximately 30 students were killed by the Bangladesh police.

Minister of Law Anisul Haque conferred with the Attorney General about appealing to the court for a hearing of the case on July 21. He urged the students to withdraw their movement. Subsequently, students stormed the headquarters of the state-owned television network, Bangladesh Television, and committed an arson attack. The network halted its transmissions following the attack.

The Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office and Bangladesh Chhatra League's official website was hacked by a pro-protester group as a response to the violence and attacks carried out by the police and the Chhatra League.

In Manikganj, atleast 3 people were dead.

At around 9 pm, the government shut down internet access across the entire country.

19 July
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in an attempt to hinder the students' protests, announced the indefinite suspension of public gatherings and processions. The Bangladesh Railway authorities, on orders from higher-ups in the government, directed train services between Dhaka and the rest of the country to shut down to prevent quota reform protestors from using trains to travel or form gatherings, according to several unnamed railway supervisors speaking with Prothom Alo. The nationwide shutdown of Internet access begun on 18 July continued into 19 July.

Throughout the country, calls for quota reform protests largely continued. Around 10:00 a.m., teachers at Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology wore black face coverings in protest. At approximately 12:45 p.m., after protesters in Kishoreganj District's Bhairab Thana surrounded the police station, police fired into the crowd from within the station, injuring over a hundred students.

Some clashes with the police also took place elsewhere, including in Uttara, Mohammadpur, and Badda thanas of Dhaka.

In Narsingdi, quota reform protesters stormed a prison and released hundreds of inmates before setting the facility on fire.

The government imposed a curfew and deployed troops nationwide.

At midnight, a meeting took place between three government representatives and three representatives of the protesters: Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, and Tanvir Ahmed. Notably, Sarjis Alam was a member of the Chhatra League and participated in the 2019 DUCSU election as a candidate from the Chhatra League.

20 July
In the United Arab Emirates, several Bangladeshi nationals were charged in relation for holding protests against their government.

21 July
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh ordered an overhaul to the quota reservation system. It increased merit appointments in the civil service to 93% and reduced slots allotted for descendants of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to 5%, with the remainder going to ethnic minorities, the disabled and transgender people. Despite the ruling, student protesters pledged to continue demonstrating for other demands such as the released of people imprisoned during the protests and the resignations of officials deemed responsible for the violence that occurred with it.

Razakar remarks
On 14 July, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said: If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of the Razakars? That's my question, the countrymen's question.

In response to the Prime Minister's comment, in the early hours of 15 July 2024 students began using slogans such as "তুমি কে, আমি কে? রাজাকার, রাজাকার! কে বলেছে, কে বলেছে? স্বৈরাচার, স্বৈরাচার!" (lit. 'Who are you? Who am I? A Razakar, a Razakar! Who has said it? Who has said it? The Autocrat, the Autocrat!'), "এক, দুই তিন চার, আমরা হলাম রাজাকার" (lit. 'One, two, three, four, we are all Rajakars') and "চাইতে গেলাম অধিকার, হয়ে গেলাম রাজাকার!" (lit. 'Sought for rights, got turned into a Razakar!'). The protesters argued that the Prime Minister's statement indirectly labelled them as "Razakars" and demeaned them for advocating for quota reform, which led them to adopt the slogan.

The Bangladesh Chhatra League threatened that any protester using these slogans would face consequences, as they viewed these actions as offensive to the spirit of the liberation war and freedom fighters. It also announced plans to take action if the usage of these slogans continued. Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni stated that the protesters should not have the right to hold the flag of Bangladesh. In light of these events, the Prime Minister questioned the education of the protesters.

Aftermath
In response to the Chhatra League attacks, student protesters at Rajshahi University vandalized halls, targeting the room of President of RU Chhatra League and other members associated with the group. The protesters in Dhaka University removed Chhatra League members from 11 different halls and declared a ban on the organization. At other universities across the country, students expelled Chhatra League members from their campuses, with some members in Chattogram even being thrown from rooftops by angry protesters. These actions led to many campuses independently declaring themselves "Chhatra League Free".

Casualties
As of 18 July 2024, seventeen fatalities have been reported nationwide due to the attacks and violence carried out by Chhatra League and Bangladesh Police. In addition, over 6000 students, civilians and children have been injured.

17 July
6 people were reported killed on 17 July: Md. Shahjahan, a 25-year-old hawker from the New Market area; Md. Farooq, a 32-year-old employee of a furniture shop; Md. Wasim Akram, a 22-year-old student of the Sociology Department at Chittagong College and an activist of Chatra Dal; Faisal Ahmed Shanto, a 24-year-old student of Omargani M.E.S. College; Sabuj Ali, a 25-year-old member of the Chhatra League and a student of Dhaka College; and most notably, Abu Sayed, a 25-year-old student of the Department of English at Begum Rokeya University.

A photograph of Abu Sayed soon after he was shot by police became viral online as a symbol of the protest.

18 July
At least eleven people were reported killed on 18 July, of which only three of which have had their names released: Siyam, an 18-year old worker at a battery shop in Gulistan; Dipta Dey, a 21-year-old second year student of Madaripur Government College; and Farhan Faiyaz, a 17-year-old student of Dhaka Residential Model College.

Another four were killed in a clash between the police at Uttara, including two students of Northern University, while one was killed in Narsingdi in a clash between police and students.

Domestic
Bangladesh's largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, denounced the Chhatra League attacks on the protesters. The Left Democratic Alliance also denounced the suppressions saying that "The government is delivering provocative speeches instead of recognizing logical changes in the quota system".

Thirty eminent citizens of the country condemned the loss of lives in violent clashes during the protests. Non-governmental organization Transparency International Bangladesh also denounced the suppressions.

The US Embassy in Bangladesh issued an alert for its citizens living in the country to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings. The embassy was later closed due to the escalating situation.

International
🇺🇸 United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the attacks on protesters by the Chhatra League. However, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Saheli Sabrin, called Miller's remarks "unsubstantiated claims". U.S. Congressman Andy Kim condemned the violence by the government against the student protestors.

🇬🇧 UK FCDO stated their concerns about the violence following protests and urged both sides to "end the violence and find a peaceful way forward".

🇺🇳 UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed his concerns and urged the government to ensure a conducive environment for dialogue and encouraged protesters to engage in dialogue to resolve the deadlock. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the government to engage with student protesters and to stop the violence.

🇪🇺 Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley stated that he "wants to see a quick resolution of present situation" and urges the government for "avoidance of futher violence and bloodshed".

🇮🇳 The All India Students Association denounced the violence and expressed their solidarity with student protesters. The All India Democratic Students Organisation staged a protest in Kolkata in support of the Bangladeshi students.

Amnesty International condemned the attacks against protesters and called on the government "to immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters and proper treatment of all those injured".

The digital civil rights NGO Access Now urged the government for unrestricted internet access and transparency during disruptions, with service providers giving prior notification and explanations to users.