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July 18, 2024
SEOUL – Civil Societies from Asia strongly condemn the violent attacks on student demonstrators by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists at Dhaka University, resulting in at least 400 injuries, including many female students. According to reports the protests, ongoing since July 1, 2024, were sparked by a High Court ruling that reinstated a job quota system reserving 30% of civil service positions for children of freedom fighters from Bangladesh’s liberation movement. This decision reversed the 2018 abolition of the quota. Demonstrators seek to reform the system, advocating for a merit-based approach.
On July 15, 2024, hundreds of Chhatra League members, many from outside the university, clad in helmets and armed with sticks and iron rods, launched an assault on student protesters voicing their grievances regarding the quota system. This systemic violence underscores the deepening authoritarianism under the ruling Awami League government. Particularly alarming was the attack on demonstrators within the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, disrupting critical medical services, highlighting the government’s failure to protect citizens’ rights.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s inflammatory remarks comparing the protesters to Razakar collaborators— linked to betrayal during Bangladesh’s liberation—have intensified tensions and reflect a troubling disregard for democratic discourse. Such rhetoric is not only irresponsible but also serves to delegitimize legitimate student concerns regarding the job quota system.
We demand immediate accountability for those responsible. The police’s failure to intervene raises serious questions about their role and the government’s broader strategy to suppress dissent. We urge Bangladeshi authorities to uphold the democratic right to peaceful protest and ensure the safety of all citizens. We strongly condemn the violent attacks against female student protesters and insist on accountability for these heinous acts.
