Bangladesh Protests Demand Reform Of Job Quota System Student protests erupt over civil service job quotas amid rising violence and government crackdownIn recent weeks, Bangladesh has witnessed an eruption of protests that have escalated into violence, all centered around a contentious quota system used to fill civil service jobs. Initially sparked by students demanding reforms, the protests have grown into a widespread movement fueled by frustration over perceived discrimination and nepotism in job allocation. A third-year international relations student at Dhaka University, Fahim Faruki, expressed the sentiments fueling the protests: “Our movement aims for a merit-based system that doesn’t favor certain groups. The quota system was established by the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, not long after independence. With both sides firmly entrenched, the debate surrounding the quota system is indicative of larger issues – from socioeconomic disparities to a youth disillusioned with a system that seems rigged against them.

Source: New York Times July 22, 2024 15:24 UTC