Bangladesh protests: Here's all you need to know

Huge protests across Bangladesh escalated into deadly violence this week with clashes between student protesters security officials and progovernment student activists over a quota system for government jobsPolice imposed a strict curfew across Bangladesh and military forces patrolled parts of the capital on Saturday to quell further violence after days of clashes over the allocation of government jobs left several people dead and hundreds injured The curfew follows what was likely the deadliest day yet in the weeks of Bangladesh protests despite a ban on public gatheringsAccording to reports the death toll has mounted to 114The Bangladesh protests which began weeks ago but escalated sharply when violence erupted Tuesday represent the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since she won a fourth consecutive term in office after elections in January that were boycotted by the main opposition groupsPolice and protesters clashed in the streets and at university campuses in Dhaka and other cities across the South Asian country Authorities moved to block online communications by banning mobile and internet servicesHerersquos all you need to knowWhy are they protestingAt the heart of the demonstrations is a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladeshrsquos 1971 war of independence against PakistanProtesters want to abolish this system which they say is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinarsquos Awami League party which led the independence movement They want it replaced with a system thatrsquos based on meritEven though job opportunities have grown in some parts of the private sector many people prefer government jobs because they are seen as more stable and lucrative But there arenrsquot enough to go around mdash each year some 400000 graduates compete for around 3000 jobs in the civil service examUnder the quota system government jobs are also reserved for women disabled people and members of ethnic minorities but students have mainly protested against jobs reserved for veteransrsquo familiesWhatrsquos happened so farThe Bangladesh protests which have drawn tens of thousands out on the streets began late last month but tensions escalated on Monday when student activists at Dhaka University the countryrsquos largest clashed with police and counterprotesters backed by the ruling Awami LeagueThe next day violence continued to roil campuses across Bangladesh More clashes were also reported on Wednesday and Thursday and paramilitary forces were deployed to patrol the streets of major citiesIn response major universities said they will close until the situation is resolved in order to protect studentsThe protesters say they will continue to demonstrate but are open to discussions with the government More violence took place on Thursday in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country as police fired tear gas at protesters according to police officials and local televisionWhat does the government sayHasina has defended the quota system saying that veterans deserve the highest respect for their contributions to the war regardless of their political affiliationHer government has also accused the main opposition parties the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the rightwing JamaateIslami party of fueling chaos The BNP has backed the studentsrsquo calls for shutdown on ThursdayOn Wednesday authorities also raided the headquarters of the BNP and arrested several activists from the partyrsquos student wingThe clashes come months after Hasina maintained power in an election that was boycotted by opposition parties and saw opposition members jailed ahead of the pollsWhy are the students protesting nowThis isnrsquot the first time therersquos been uproar over this issue In 2018 Hasinarsquos government halted the quotas after mass student protestsHowever the High Court nullified that decision last month and reinstated the quotas after relatives of the 1971 veterans filed petitions sparking the latest round of protests The Supreme Court suspended that decision and promised to rule on the issue on August 7 Despite this the protests have persistedldquoI am requesting all to wait with patience until the verdict is deliveredrdquo Hasina said in a televised address Wednesday evening ldquoI believe our students will get justice from the apex court They will not be disappointedrdquoWhatrsquos nextThe Supreme Court suspended the High Courtrsquos reinstatement of the quotas after a government appeal It has set August 7 as the date when it will hear the governmentrsquos challenge to the High Court rulingHasinarsquos government says it agrees with students on doing away with the quota a position it is expected to reiterate before the Supreme Court But student protesters are demanding a legal amendment against the quotasWith inputs from Agencies