Student-led protests in Bangladesh intensified as demonstrators marched to the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This defiant move comes amidst a curfew, while the army chief prepares to address the nation.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement initiated the march in the afternoon, urging citizens nationwide to join. This decision followed violent clashes on Sunday between government supporters and protesters, resulting in over 100 deaths, including police officers. Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman postponed his national address to 3 p.m. local time.
At Shahbag Square, a well-known protest site in Dhaka, large crowds gathered, with some celebrating the impending address by the army chief, seeing it as a victory for the students. Television footage showed people embracing troops on the streets.
Initially peaceful, the protests began in late June, calling for the abolition of a controversial government jobs quota. However, the situation has escalated, with demonstrators now seeking to oust Hasina, who has vowed to crack down on those inciting unrest.
The ongoing clashes have diverted the government’s attention as it seeks financial support from creditors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bolster depleting foreign-exchange reserves. The curfews and internet blackouts have already cost Bangladesh’s economy $10 billion.
Starting Monday, the government has again closed offices, including banks, for three days and shut down mobile internet services. Hasina’s office urged students and parents to return home, citing “militant attacks” in various parts of the country and warning of severe repercussions against perpetrators.
Despite overseeing one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and lifting millions out of poverty, Hasina faces criticism for alleged authoritarianism, with accusations of using state institutions to suppress dissent and control the media, allegations she denies.
The protests originally reacted to the High Court’s reinstatement of a controversial government jobs quota favoring families of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Although the Supreme Court later reversed this decision, the issue has reignited discontent.
Youth unemployment remains high, exacerbated by the pandemic, and the private sector struggles to expand. The unrest has severely affected the garment sector, a critical dollar earner, likely impacting foreign reserves, which fell to $21.8 billion in June.
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