India Faces Diplomatic Shift as Sheikh Hasina’s Tenure Ends
New Delhi: Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister following intense pressure from widespread protests over a controversial job quota bill. The nationwide demonstrations, which began peacefully, turned violent earlier in July. Despite the Supreme Court’s efforts to scale back the reservations, these measures failed to quell the unrest, leading to the end of Hasina’s 15-year rule.
The job quota system in Bangladesh has deep historical roots, tracing back to the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) established post-1947 partition. The system, initially introduced through an executive order and later formalized under the 1956 constitution, aimed to ensure representation in public service recruitment. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1972, institutionalized the job quota system to honor freedom fighters from the 1971 war of Independence against Pakistan. However, demands for its cancellation have surfaced periodically.
By 2018, 56% of government jobs in Bangladesh were reserved: 30% for descendants of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for residents of backward districts, 5% for minority groups, and 1% for people with disabilities. This led to significant protests, particularly at educational institutions, calling for reforms. Responding to the outcry, the government scrapped all quota forms for grades 9 to 13 government jobs, reserving third and fourth-class posts for quotas.
In June 2024, Bangladesh’s High Court reinstated the quotas following petitions from relatives of 1971 veterans, prompting renewed protests from thousands of students. The Supreme Court intervened, suspending the High Court’s ruling. On July 21, it mandated a reduction in the veterans’ quota to 5%, with 93% of jobs to be filled based on merit. The remaining 2% was allocated to ethnic minorities, transgenders, and disabled people.
Despite these changes, protests resumed, with demonstrators demanding justice for those killed during the unrest and calling for Hasina’s resignation. The volatile situation underscores the deep-seated tensions over the quota system and its implications for Bangladesh’s political and social landscape.
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