Bangladesh Anti Quota Protests 2013

The Bangladesh Anti Quota Protests of 2013 were protests against incumbent government policies regarding jobs in the government sector in the country. They began in the same location that saw the 2013 Shahbag protests in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Although initially confined to the locality of Shahbag and Dhaka University campus, they eventually spread to other parts of Bangladesh. The protests attained popularity as students of different universities in various parts of the country brought out processions of their own while demonstrating in solidarity with the main protest movement and pressing forward with similar demands.

Under the current BCS examinations system, 30 per cent of the seats are reserved for children of freedom fighters and 10 per cent for women. A further 10 per cent is reserved for districts, 5 per cent for national minorities and 1 per cent for people with disabilities. As a result, only 44 percent of the examinees are able to secure positions on the basis of merit, causing discontent among a large section of general students who say that they are deprived despite scoring higher than candidates who fall under any quota.

Protesters formed a 10-member committee known as ‘Medhamullayon Mancha’ and said Abdur Rahim, student of University of Dhaka would act as convener of the committee. They have called for the re-evaluation of results of the 34th BCS preliminary examination and the cancellation of quota system in all public examinations.

On Wednesday, 10 July 2013, hundreds of Bangladesh Civil Service examinees began protests demanding an immediate cancellation of all sorts of quota in public service recruitment. Several hundred job-seekers who did not pass the 34th BCS preliminary exam had gathered in the Shahbagh crossing, blocking the roads passing through, till 10:00 pm for more than 10 hours demanding the re-evaluation of answer scripts claiming that they had not been selected even after doing good in the exam and the cancellation of the quota system. The Bangladesh Public Service Commission later in the evening said that it would review the preliminary test results.

On Thursday, 11 July 2013, the students, who gathered at Shahbagh intersection for the 2nd day demanding cancellation of the quota system in recruitment to government jobs, were forced to leave the place as police charged baton and lobbed teargas shells on them. In a short time, the clashes spread throughout the Dhaka University campus area. Protesters alleged that ruling party Chhatra League activists joined the police in attacking protesters on the Dhaka University campus and beat them up with lethal weapons, sticks and iron rods. The demonstrators vandalised several vehicles, including two cars of private TV channels, DU registrar building, proctor office and sociology department.

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