Welcome Forums International Relations Forum Bangladesh Violent Protests 2024

  • UPSC World

    Administrator
    7 August 2024 at 12:16 PM

    A Brief Overview

    Why it started?

    • Students are protesting against the government’s decision to reinstate a 30% job quota for freedom fighters and their descendants.
    • The quota system was introduced in 1972, reserving 30% of government and semi-government posts for freedom fighters and 10% for women.
    • The protesters believe the quota system limits merit-based opportunities and has been misused.

    How it is going?

    • The protests have turned violent, resulting in over 100 deaths and leading to a siege of Dhaka.
    • The government has imposed a curfew and an internet shutdown.
    • The situation has escalated, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina labeling protesters as “razakars” or traitors.
    • The military has been deployed to control the unrest.

    Key Issues

    • The quota system has been criticized for being extended to broader categories over time, leading to concerns about fairness and effective utilization.
    • There have been allegations of abuse, with reservations extended to party operatives and not just deserving freedom fighters’ descendants.
    • The protesters demand a more balanced and inclusive quota system.

    International Relations

    • India has refrained from commenting, considering it an internal matter for Bangladesh.
    • The Indian mission in Bangladesh has helped 978 Indians return home.
    • India is the largest development partner for Bangladesh, having extended approximately $8 billion in Lines of Credit (LOC) over the past eight years.

    Way forward

    • The Bangladesh government should consider a transparent and balanced quota reform that addresses both merit-based and reservation needs.
    • Establishing mechanisms to monitor the implementation of quotas and prevent misuse is crucial.
  • UPSC World

    Administrator
    7 August 2024 at 2:35 PM

    Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Resigns Amid Protests

    • Sheikh Hasina has resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister amid violent protests demanding her departure.
    • The Bangladesh Army, led by General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has taken control and will establish an interim government.
    • Hasina resigned and fled to India on a military aircraft, following weeks of anti-government protests that left at least 300 dead and hundreds injured.
    • She received an ultimatum to flee the country and arrived at Hindon Air Base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.
    • Hasina held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the present situation in Bangladesh and her future course of action.
    • The Indian Air Force and other security agencies are providing security to Hasina.
    • Speculation exists that Hasina might travel to London or Belarus.
    • The peaceful student protest against the freedom fighter reservation of 30% in civil services galvanized into a nationwide movement due to the government’s heavy-handed approach.
    • The attack on students by Awami League’s student wing and imposition of a strict curfew further inflamed tensions.
    • Bangladesh made rapid economic progress under Hasina’s regime, but the pandemic and slowing global economy hit the garment industry, increasing unemployment and inflation.
    • The Parliamentary elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were controversial and non-participative, eroding democratic values.
    • Hasina’s government relied on hard power to maintain control, creating a climate of fear and repression.
    • The Digital Security Act 2018 was used to silence critics and stifle freedom of online expression.
    • Rampant corruption and economic inequality fueled public discontent despite overall economic progress.
    • The proliferation of bank scams and an expanding list of defaulters contributed to the growing discontent.
  • UPSC World

    Administrator
    9 August 2024 at 10:59 AM

    Muhammad Yunus: Nobel Laureate and Microfinance Pioneer

    • Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2006, has been appointed as the chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government.
    • He is a renowned economist and founder of Grameen Bank, which pioneered microfinance and provided over $34 billion in loans to nearly 10 million people.
    • Yunus is credited with creating the concept of microcredit, offering small, collateral-free loans to poor entrepreneurs.
    • He was born in 1940 in Chittagong and holds a PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University.
    • Yunus’s relationship with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been strained since he considered starting a political party.
    • He is facing legal challenges, including a six-month prison sentence for labor law violations and investigations into tax evasion and financial transactions.
    • Despite this, Yunus remains a respected figure, known for his work in promoting economic and social development.
    • He has received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, and has held various influential positions, including a board member of the United Nations Foundation.
    • Yunus’s appointment as chief adviser is seen as a significant development in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

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