The Bangladesh students are protesting on the topic of “Quota Reformation.” The Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, from Awami League, has resigned. She requested the Indian government allow her to stay in India. Furthermore, the Indian government allowed her. She resigned on Monday and arrived at the Hindon Air Base near New Delhi.
Furthermore, the Bangladeshi army gave her only 45 minutes to leave the country. Bangladesh’s army is divided into two parts. The senior army supports Hasina, whereas some of the junior army, with the support of 60 retired officers, opposes her.
What is happening in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh students are against the current student reservation. The protest started on 5 July 2024 after the High Court rejected the petition for Quota system reformation. They are asking for the quota to be reformed. The current quota is divided into five sections:
- 30% quota for the jobs for freedom fighters, their children and grandchildren
- 10% quota for the women
- 10% quota for backward districts
- 5% quota for ethnic minority
- 1% quota for people with physical disabilities
Of 100%, 56% of the quota is reserved, and only 44% of jobs are on merit. The protestors support quotas for less priviledged and people with physical disabilities. In 2018, the first time students protested against the reservation, the government supported them. The matter reached the high court. After the High Court decision, the government opposed the protest.
History behind the 30% Quota
Bangladesh was previously known as East Pakistan, and West Pakistan is currently known as Pakistan. Bangladesh was part of Pakistan before Independence. During that time, East Pakistan was discriminated against by West Pakistan. During the Bhola Cyclone in 1970, it ended up drowning more than 5 lakh people.
West Pakistan did not put much effort into providing relief to East Pakistan. The fight between East Pakistan and West Pakistan started, and many Bangladesh freedom fighters ended up sacrificing themselves. Furthermore, the Bangladesh government showed empathy towards the fighters. They released a 30% quota reservation to them.
1972, the quota was given to the freedom fighters, but in 1997 it was passed to their children. Finally, in 2010, it passed to the next generation, the freedom fighters’ grandchildren.
Role of Bangladesh Prime Minister in the Matter
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina played an important role in the protest. She did not say a single word in the murder which her party’s activists do. She did not take action against 180 deaths.
Furthermore, in her statement, she says “Are the freedom fighters’ children and grandchildren not talented? Are only the children and grandchildren of Razakaar talented? Why do they have so much resentment towards freedom fighters?
Dipu Moni, the Social Welfare Minister, and Mohammad Ali, the state minister of Information and Broadcasting, made the same statement. The Prime Minister’s lines added a firestorm in Bangladesh. Razakaar is the sentence that refers to antinational and traitors.
After her statement, the opposition party BNP supported the protesting students. They became angry and lured Sheikh Hasina’s home, eating leftovers from the fridge and breaking the furniture. Realising the condition, the Bangladesh prime minister resigns from her position.
Highlights of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
1. Major opposition leaders supported the protests. Along with protestors, they demanded Sheikh Hasina’s resignation from her position. During the protest, the protestors and police fought.
2. Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament on Tuesday after the resignation. Begum Khaleda Zia, the former president, was also freed from house arrest. The protestors want Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus to be chief adviser.
3. After resigning from her position, Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, left Dhaka residence with a private Helicopter. Her son demands Bangladesh’s security forces for security. Don’t allow any unelected government to come into power for one minute; it is your duty.” He wrote on Facebook.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Staying in India
India has a strong cultural and trade link with Bangladesh. On Hasina’s demand, the Indian government gave shelter to the Bangladesh PM, Sheikh Hasin, and her sister. With her private helicopter, she landed at the Hindon airbase near Ghaziabad.
Although she has relatives in London, the US, and Singapore, she will stay in India for a few days for security reasons. She met with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval at Hindon. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said her mother will not return to Bangladesh. Furthermore, she decided that she would leave for London soon.
Bottom Line
After the protest in Bangladesh over reforming reservations, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned. She left Dhaka with her sister and is currently staying in India. Her statement referred to the protestors as “antinational.” The whole of Bangladesh wanted her to resign. The protestors demanded that Muhammad Yunus be the chief adviser.
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