Legacy of Freedom Fighters: Mass Protests in Bangladesh Reevaluate History and Shape Future Governance

On the 1st of July, Bangladesh encountered the start of one of its bloodiest protests since its independence in 1971. The protest started at Dhaka University and rapidly spread to various campuses nationwide. These protests at first were meant to be a peaceful demonstration against the high court’s decision to reinstate quotas that reserve 30% of the 56% reserved quota to the descended of the “freedom fighters” who fought against Pakistan in the 1971 War of Independence, leaving only 44% to the merit-based competition. The peaceful protests at first were centered around job quotas, which turned violent leading to the death of more than 200 civilians, the majority of them being students. This exposed a major political and economic discontent brewing between the government and the civilians.

The protest of unarmed students was met with a brutal response from the security forces and pro-government paramilitaries like Chhatra League and Youth League. With the order of “shoot-on-sight,” the security forces and paramilitaries were armed with teargas and lethal firearms which included shotguns, assault rifles, and grenade launchers. On top of that, they went above and beyond by using armored vehicles and even firing from a helicopter. In response all students could resort to were sticks and stones to fight back. While many were killed and injured, there are many allegations made against the government for falsely arresting and torturing student activists. Protesters reacted to the government’s aggression by vandalizing police vehicles and key infrastructure, like subway stations and toll booths. They further went as far as setting fire to the headquarters of the state broadcaster. The protest has come to a temporary halt, while the curfew and internet blackout continues. The Supreme Court has once again cut the quota to just 5%. But now this uprising has become so much more than the employment quota. According to many analysts, it has now developed into a much bigger movement to bring down Hasina’s tyrannical reign since 2009.

Growth Under Siege: The Economic Toll of Corruption and Group Bias

In the last 2 decades, Bangladesh has managed to become one of the most rapidly growing economies in South Asia. According to the latest report of the World Bank in the last 20 years Bangladesh has seen more than 25 million people escaping poverty. Bangladesh’s economy got its boost from the exports of ready-to-wear clothing that have tripled its per-capita income bringing around 40 billion dollars to the economy. These industries additionally employ around 4 million people, creating a situation where highly educated individuals are experiencing higher unemployment rates compared to their less educated counterparts. Around 18 million educated young Bangladeshis are struggling to find jobs, paired with existing economic insecurities job quota reinforcement, and rumors of leaked government job entrance exam papers. There is a growing belief that civil service positions are predominantly reserved for the elite and descendants of freedom fighters, who are supporters of Prime Minister Hasina’s government.

The Hasina government is often condemned for granting these specific groups a monopoly on certain privileges to maintain their power and authority. This group is known for engaging in corrupt practices and influencing policies in a way that allows them to disproportionately benefit from this economic growth. As a result, significant economic disparities increase between this elite group and the rest of the population. In an economy that does not cater to the educated youth, they witnessed one of the few chances of landing a stable job in civil services stolen from them, this provoked widespread protests on campuses that met with a violent state-led crackdown making the educational institutions into battlefields.

Manipulation and Totalitarianism: The Path to Oppression

The superficial tranquility has masked the democratic turmoil that has been caused by the huge trust deficit between Prime Minister Hasina and the people of Bangladesh. That has now become more prominent than ever with the latest protests that highlight the struggle between democracy and oppression. Violent crackdowns are anything but new to Sheikh Hasina’s government as it is surrounded by allegations of killing thousands and the disappearance of hundreds of her critics in the last decade. Many analysts warn against the growing totalitarianism of Hasina’s rule while analyzing her victory in the last three elections which have been widely accepted as rigged and her brutal policies against any opposition.

In an attempt to justify her government’s brutal actions against the protesters, Hasina tried to control the narrative by labeling the protesters as “Razakars”. This term is used for the local supporters of Pakistan during the 1971 War of Independence. This did not go as expected, instead of gaining sympathy and support from the population against the protestors as she expected, she got much criticism. The government also attempted to use this situation to target opposition political parties. The current minister of state for information and broadcasting Arafat blamed Jamaat e Islami behind the protest and violence. Additionally, claiming the Awami League to be the force that prevented the country from becoming another Afghanistan. This was an old trick Awami League tried to use again to create the narrative that Hasina is battling terrorism that will lead to support from Western countries and silence against any criticisms of her brutal crackdown. This excuse is her way of justifying the detainment of 2,500 members of oppositional parties. During the last 15 years of her command, this protest is the biggest stand ever taken against her government in an attempt to put a stop to the reign of terror and the growing oppressive government. The possible success and failure of this protest are difficult to predict, but it has put Hasina in deeper trouble than ever before.

Independence and Indifference: The Disconnect of Today’s Youth

The legacy of freedom fighters and her father has always been the cornerstone of legitimacy for Hasina and her party. She constantly mentions her deceased father and his role in the independence of Bangladesh in every speech and interview to gain public support. Similarly, in the case of these protests, Hasina attempted to use the past to justify her criticized policies by stating “Why do they [the protesters] have so much resentment towards the freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?”. Instead of getting the support she expected believing the war of independence was still unchallengeable and sacred. It further enraged the protesters as their demand for their rights got them labeled the enemy of the state. Rather than denying such a label, they embraced it by chanting “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar! Who says that? dictator, dictator!” and “Asked for rights and became a Razakar”. Making it clear that even if the country is just 53 years old the majority of its population was born after independence and is more concerned with the present oppression in the country rather than the historical struggle for liberation.

In Bangladesh, the air is filled with anticipation as the country comes to a halt due to an indefinite curfew. The Supreme Court has once again reduced the set quota to 5% but that is now too little too late as the student leaders demand an apology and justice for those killed in the violence from the government. Despite getting no response from the authorities the students remain silent, as many organizers are in hospital or have been detained by police. Two major characteristics have become clear. First, this conflict is no longer about unequal opportunities, but rather a much bigger political and economic struggle. Secondly, the power that Hasina’s party derived from the historical struggle for liberation does not hold as much influence as it used to. While it is difficult to predict the potential outcome of these protests, it is evident that Hasina and her government are nervous, as shown by the strength of the crackdown.