Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed her social competitors for the lethal turmoil in the country, adding she was “forced” to implement a law for public health.
In a meeting with business leaders in the capital Dhaka on Monday, she said,” I never wanted it.” When things improve,” We will pull the law.”
Her comments come a day after Bangladesh’s top court scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs, which have sparked weeks of violent clashes across the country.
More than 150 people have been killed in protests involving the officers, and more than 150 have called for Ms. Hasina to move over.
Ms. Hasina claims that her government may work to” suppress these insurgents and create a better environment” and blames the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and their student arms for the crime.
Social researchers view the turmoil as a first-hand evaluation of one of Asia’s most prominent women.
Ms Hasina, 76, secured her fourth straight term as prime minister in January, in a controversial election boycotted by the country’s main opposition parties.
Mubashar Hasan, a research fellow at the University of Oslo who studies dictatorship in Asia, said that the over-politicization of the nature of the independence conflict by Sheikh Hasina and her party, the neglect of simple voting rights to citizens year after year, and the authoritarian nature of her regime have angered a huge section of society.
” However, she never became the prime minister for everyone in the state. Alternatively, she remained the chief of just one team”, he told BBC Bangla.
Before Sunday’s court selection, Bangladesh reserved about 30 % of its high-paying government work for children of those who fought in Bangladesh’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The jury determined that only 5 % of the jobs can be left up to the family members of the soldiers.
Ms Hasina is the princess of Bangladesh’s foundation head Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Her state abolished the appointment in 2018, following demonstrations. However, a court decision that the authorities must restore the quotas in June sparked new upheaval.
About two weeks ago, largely college students began protesting. They claim that the program badly favors the children of pro-government organizations and that merit-based hiring should be replaced.
Experts claim that Ms. Hasina initially dismissed the protest ‘ concerns, which exacerbated the unrest.
She reaffirmed the quota system on 14 July, further supporting the rift between the pro- and anti-liberation makes ‘ heirs.
” Why do]the protesters ] have so much resentment towards the freedom fighters? Should the grandchildren of Razakars receive the benefit if the grandchildren of the freedom fighters do n’t receive the quota benefits? she said at a press conference.
A military force made up of Bangladeshis who fought on the side of Pakistan during the 1971 warfare is known as the Razakars, a derogatory term used in Bangladesh. Additionally, the organization is accused of committing heinous acts.
Ms Hasina’s responses galvanised yet more demonstrators within hours. The next day, thousands of students took to the streets of Dhaka to protest the prime minister’s remarks.
Over the next few days, some more organised rallies across the country. Many flames were lit throughout the state, including one at BTV, the state television station.
In addition to the arrest of about 500 people in the last two weeks, authorities have placed a global curfew and called in the defense.
In an effort to quell the protests, the country’s wireless internet and text messaging services have been suspended for at least five times.
Some student leaders have pledged to continue protesting in order to demand justice for those who have been killed and detained in recent days, federal officials ‘ defections, and an explanation from Ms. Hasina.