Over the student movement calling for the elimination of quotas in government employment, Bangladeshis have been living in a nervous state for a week. The High Court on June 5 ordered the reinstatement of the quota by deleting the circular in a petition filed by the offspring of freedom fighters, although the government abolished all quotas in government jobs by a circular in 2018 in response to the demand of the students. Since then, students launched a campaign calling for the quota in government employment to be abolished. The students were using a nonviolent movement.
On July 15, demonstrators battled with the student body of the governing party on several university campuses throughout the nation at one point during the continuous march of the students. On July 16, however, the situation collapsed when students started observing a "complete shutdown" all around. Third force driven politically entered the student movement and began damaging and burning many government buildings. Law enforcement collided with the students once in a while. Many lives perished. Many young men engaged in this fight have passed away, impacting their families. Conversely, members of the law enforcement forces as well as the student wing of the ruling party perished. Nobody expected such bloodshed at any cost. Consequently, the people of Bangladesh have shown great sympathy to the relatives of those lost in this unannounced battle.
It is relevant to underline here that the government filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to revoke the High Court's decision shortly after it was rendered, thereby implying that the government also backed student demands. Concurrent with this, the bench under the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court decided on the High Court ruling and scheduled the hearing following four weeks. Still, the students looked to the executive department for a fix for the dilemma. As things became worse, the authorities started talking with the demonstrators. On the one hand, the Attorney General filed a petition to the bench under the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to forward the hearing day in line with the proposed agenda.
July 21 was supposed to be the hearing for the application. A curfew was enforced across the nation as things spiraled out of hand. On July 21, after hearing all parties, the bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court—led by the chief justice—issued a historic ruling. Later on, the government issued a circular in this respect. Simultaneously, considering the needs of the students, the government formed a judicial commission to look into the fatalities during the conflicts. Every mortality incidence in the country is expected to be looked at and the guilty will be brought to justice.
Concerns have been voiced over whether the government reacted to the student movement too slowly. It is stated that the government may have done the step several days ago. The administration might not have understood, however, that third parties would intervene and aggravate the issue. Appealing against the High Court's ruling, it has been contended on behalf of the government that they have shown initiative. The government's previous circular was reinstated as the Appellate Division offered a status quo on the High Court ruling. Moreover, after four weeks the Appellate Division wished to hear every party. As so, they did not take initiative. From a legal perspective, this is valid. Still, the competent authorities ought to have acted a few days ago.
The third party, who has been vying for power for the past fifteen years, began using the student movement as a cover for fishing in muddy waters, therefore inciting instability in the nation. The people of Bangladesh have experienced such events numerous times previously. The degree of damage and vandalism done in government buildings in Dhaka on July 18 and 19 has crossed all the limits. The demonstrators openly said at the time of the tragedy that they had nothing to do with the continuous vandalism as they never expected such damage to publically important government buildings.
Their declaration made it very evident that the parties seeking to undermine the government had used the student movement as a launching pad for their effort to bring about government collapse. According to several sources, the general secretary of a political party had pushed the countrymen to join the movement and demanded the fall of the government at that period. The demands for the government to be overthrown made it abundantly evident that the organization, together with its supporters, was engaged in sabotage meant to bring about government collapse. Although they have carried out such strategies multiple times previously, they have not been able to get the intended result.
Targeting all government buildings and offices, the type of vandalism committed this time was entirely different. They intended to topple the government by separating Dhaka from the rest of the nation. They, therefore, deliberately gathered their followers in Dhaka and the environs.
Looking at the countrywide destruction, we will see that other districts of the nation had relatively few instances, which indicates they sought control over Dhaka and surrounding regions. Now a relevant issue is why the government intelligence services have not been able to obtain information on the intentions of the opposition. Committing such an orderly crime without a well-considered strategy was not a simple chore. Should the intelligence agencies show shortcomings, the government need to grow from this event.
Every political party, of course, is entitled to use a methodical movement to put pressure on the government. Still, as government buildings are public property, such damage should not be done to them. Targeting to demolish the image of the nation, the destruction of iconic installations like metro rail and elevated expressways was not expected. Therefore, the government must act appropriately to guarantee the protection of these buildings as well as the residents. Still, the curfew and the army's presence help to indicate that the situation is gradually returning to normal.
The circular issued has already satisfied the students’ demands. Not predicted were the unanticipated events that occurred in the nation around their march. As the students asserted, the government level also holds the same; the students did not participate in such events. The government has taken effective steps to address the demands of the students. As a result, both sides should end this movement through dialogue. In the incidents that have taken place in the last few days, people's lives have been lost on the one hand, as well as the country's people's wealth. Thus, everyone should cooperate for the benefit of the people of the nation without wasting time.
The writer is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the
University of Rajshahi.
