What Is The Reason For Unrest In Bangladesh?

The other day, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned due to the unrest in the country.

There are massive protests in the country for Reservations and 100s of people have been killed so far.

In this context, the Prime Minister fled and landed in Sikkim. She will be here until her Asylum request is granted by the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Army has taken control of the country, and military rule has been imposed in Bangladesh. A caretaker government would be formed soon.

But why is there unrest in the country?

Bangladesh with the help of India fought a war of Independence with Pakistan and got liberated in 1971.

As a mark of respect to the Warriors of the War, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and the father of PM Sheikh Hasina created a Thirty Percent Reservation quota for freedom fighters, their families, and women (who were tortured & assaulted by Pakistani soldiers) to honor their sacrifice.

In 2018, there were massive protests by the students against these reservations in 2018. It yielded significant results and led to the Government abolishing reservations in 1st and 2nd class jobs.

But in June 2024, the High Court of Bangladesh reinstated the Reservations.

That led to protests again and now to the coup against the current PM Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina’s Party, Awami League is actively involved in the 1971 Liberation Movement. The Ruling Party is facing accusations of using the quota system to reward its loyalists — particularly veterans and their families, who are often politically aligned with the party.

Hence, Sheik Hasina who was instrumental in making Bangladesh one of the fastest-growing economies in the world during her twenty years tenure had to flee to another country and seek Asylum.