Bangladesh protests over quota system for government jobs since July 1, 2024
Movement against quotas known as Students Against Discrimination
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blames opposition groups for violence, but protests show no signs of abating
Students argue that the conventional job quota system is discriminatory and limits opportunities based on merit
Violent clashes between students and supporters of the quota system have resulted in at least five deaths and over 400 injuries
Bangladesh has been gripped by violent protests over the past two weeks as students demand an end to quotas for government jobs. The controversy began when the High Court reinstated a quota system that reserves one-third of civil service posts for children of freedom fighters, a move that sparked widespread opposition from students who argue that it limits opportunities based on merit.
The protests, which have turned deadly, have been reported at various universities across Bangladesh including Dhaka University and Chittagong University. At least five people have been killed and over 400 injured in the clashes between protesters and supporters of the quota system.
Students argue that the conventional job quota system, under which more than half of much sought-after government jobs are reserved, is discriminatory. The movement against quotas has come to be known as Students Against Discrimination.
The violence escalated when groups linked to the ruling Awami League attacked student protesters in the capital Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had abolished the quota system after massive protests in 2018, has blamed opposition groups for the violence.
The protests have been ongoing since July 1 and show no signs of abating soon. Schools and universities across Bangladesh have been shut until further notice as a result.
Protests over quotas in government jobs have resulted in the closure of schools and universities across Bangladesh.
University students have been holding rallies against the reservation of some public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes, women, ethnic minorities, and the disabled.
Three people were killed in Chittagong and two in Dhaka during clashes between supporters of the anti-quota movement and their opponents.
At least three of those killed were students.
The government blames opposition groups for the violence, specifically Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) student fronts.
Accuracy
At least three people were killed in Chittagong and two in Dhaka during clashes between supporters of the anti-quota movement and their opponents.
Three students, one pedestrian and one unidentified person were among those killed.
Students clashed with pro-government student activists and police at Jahangir Nagar University in Savar outside Dhaka.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The authors only report details that support the students' argument against the job quotas, while omitting information about the violence instigated by both sides. They also use emotionally charged language to manipulate readers' emotions towards the students and against those in power. For example, they describe protesters as 'ordinary students' who were 'killed by BCL members', but do not mention that some protesters have also attacked and injured their opponents.
Several student leaders said Ms Hasina had insulted them by comparing them to razakar.
We blame the BCL members for the violence. They killed the protesters. Police didn't intervene to save the ordinary students.
Students argue that the system is discriminatory, and they want recruitment based on merit.
Fallacies
(85%)
The authors make an appeal to authority by quoting the Law Minister Anisul Huq stating that opposition groups have infiltrated the anti-quota movement and initiated the violence. However, they do not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim.
“The student fronts of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] have infiltrated this anti-quota movement. They are the ones who initiated the violence,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told the BBC.
Bias
(80%)
The authors use language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by describing the students as 'holding rallies for days' and 'attacking each other with bricks and sticks'. They also attribute the violence to opposition groups without providing evidence. The authors do not provide any counter-arguments or context to challenge the students' perspective, which could give an unfairly biased impression.
Student groups attacked each other with bricks and sticks...
The student fronts of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] have infiltrated this anti-quota movement...They are the ones who initiated the violence...
University students have been holding rallies for days against the system of reserving some public sector jobs for the relatives of war heroes...
At least five people were killed and dozens injured in Bangladesh on July 15, 2024, during student protests against a government jobs quota at Jahangir Nagar University in Savar outside Dhaka.
Three students, one pedestrian and one unidentified person were among those killed.
Protesters are demanding an end to a quota reserved for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.
Accuracy
At least five people were killed and dozens injured in Bangladesh on July 15, 2024, during student protests against a government jobs quota.
, Three people were killed in Chittagong and two in Dhaka during clashes between supporters of the anti-quota movement and their opponents.
At least three of those killed were students.
The protests began on July 1 after the High Court reinstated the job quota that reserves one-third of civil service posts for children of fighters who participated in the country's liberation movement in 1971.
Students from government and private universities across Bangladesh are demanding reform in the conventional job quota system, under which more than half of much sought-after government jobs are reserved.
The protests were first started by students of the University of Dhaka and have spread to other universities and cities.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. The author repeatedly cites media reports without providing any evidence or context for their accuracy. Additionally, the author uses loaded language such as 'violent clashes' and 'protests led to violence around the country.' While it is true that there were reports of violence during these protests, the use of this language implies that the protests themselves were violent rather than simply being a catalyst for violence. This is an example of inflammatory rhetoric. Furthermore, there are several appeals to authority throughout the article. For example, when reporting on the number of deaths and injuries, the author cites media reports without providing any further evidence or context. Additionally, when quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's defense of the quota system, the author does not challenge her statements or provide any counterarguments. This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy as the reader is expected to accept Hasina's statements as true without any critical analysis.
At least five people were reported killed and dozens injured in Bangladesh on Tuesday as student protests against a government jobs quota led to violence around the country, media reports said.
Students clash over quota system at Jahangir Nagar University at Savar outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdul Goni)
Protesters are demanding an end to a quota reserved for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, which allows them to take up to 30% of government jobs.
They argue the quota is discriminatory, and should be replaced with a merit-based system. They also say it benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement.
Clashes broke out Monday at the country’s leading Dhaka University, with more than 100 students injured, police said. Violence spread overnight to Jahangir Nagar University in Savar, outside Dhaka, and was reported elsewhere around the country on Tuesday.
At least three of the dead were students, one was a pedestrian and one was not identified, media reports said.
Protesters also blocked highways and railways in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country.
The two-week-long anti-quota protests in Bangladesh have turned violent after groups linked to the ruling party attacked student protesters in the capital, Dhaka.
More than 400 people were injured on Monday and Tuesday during attacks on protesters who are against the government job quota system amid rising unemployment in the South Asian nation.
The protests began on July 1 after the High Court reinstated the job quota that reserves one-third of civil service posts for children of fighters who participated in the country’s liberation movement in 1971.
Students from government and private universities across Bangladesh are demanding reform in the conventional job quota system, under which more than half of much sought-after government jobs are reserved.
The protest movement has come to be known as the Students Against Discrimination movement.
On June 5, the High Court ordered the reinstatement of the 30 percent quota for children of freedom fighters, deeming the 2018 abolition of quotas illegal. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League had abolished the quota system after massive protests.
At least five people have been killed, and more than 400 injured in the protests. As of Tuesday, 297 were treated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The protesters have blamed the ruling party’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), for the violence.
Accuracy
At least five people have been killed, and more than 400 injured in the protests.
Three people were killed in Chittagong and two in Dhaka during clashes between supporters of the anti-quota movement and their opponents.
At least three of those killed were students.
Violence was reported around the capital of Dhaka, the southeastern city of Chattogram and the northern city of Rangpur.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position against the quota system and ignores counterarguments. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the protests as 'violent' and 'turned violent', implying a negative connotation towards those protesting. Additionally, there is a lack of disclosure of sources in the article.
The government has deployed riot police who fired tear gas and charged with batons on Tuesday during violent clashes between the protesters and a pro-government student group.
Thousands of students from Dhaka University in the capital as well as Chittagong University have staged sit-ins against the quota system.
The two-week-long anti-quota protests in Bangladesh have turned violent after groups linked to the ruling party attacked student protesters in the capital, Dhaka.
Students across Bangladesh took to the streets with mass procession in response to PM Hasina’s framing of quota reform protesters as heirs of Rajakar (Collaborators who aided Pakistan in ’71). Chant ‘Who are you, who am I? Rajakar, Rajakar’ filling the air nationwide.
What triggered the recent protests? On June 5, the High Court ordered the reinstatement of the 30 percent quota for children of freedom fighters, deeming the 2018 abolition of quotas illegal.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's statements and labels the protesters as 'Razakars', which is a loaded term with negative connotations. The author also reports inflammatory rhetoric used by both the government and the students, but does not explicitly name these instances as fallacies.
> Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League had abolished the quota system after massive protests.<br>Hasina referred to them as ‘Razakars’.
‘Why do they have so much resentment towards freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?’<br>Students across Bangladesh took to the streets with mass procession in response to PM Hasina’s framing of quota reform protesters as heirs of Rajakar (Collaborators who aided Pakistan in ‘71)
Bias
(80%)
The author uses language that depicts the ruling party and its student wing as violent and aggressive towards the student protesters. The author also quotes a ruling party leader referring to the protesters as 'Razakars', which is an offensive term in Bangladesh. This use of language could be seen as biased against the ruling party.
Protests continued on Tuesday, disrupting traffic in Dhaka.
Ruling party leaders and ministers have tried to paint the protesters as anti-nationals and against the government after Hasina referred to them as 'Razakars'.
The two-week-long anti-quota protests in Bangladesh have turned violent after groups linked to the ruling party attacked student protesters in the capital, Dhaka.
Thousands of students from Dhaka University in the capital as well as Chittagong University have staged sit-ins against the quota system.
