Anti-discrimination student movement, mass uprising, and fall of Sheikh Hasina

After winning one of the most credible elections in Bangladesh's history in 2008, the Awami League-led government came to power at the beginning of 2009. Sheikh Hasina assumed office for the second time. Despite navigating three more elections, the Awami League managed to remain in power. However, over the last 11 years, elections lost their credibility. Ultimately, it wasn’t political opposition but an apparently innocent anti-discrimination movement in public service recruitment that led to Sheikh Hasina's resignation and her subsequent departure from the country.

Political analysts argue that Sheikh Hasina's regime became completely isolated due to centralized authoritarianism. In the end, her strained relations with the West left her geopolitically vulnerable. Faced with the massive uprising led by students, Sheikh Hasina had no choice but to flee the country.

From Quota Reform to Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

On August 5, 1972, the government introduced a quota system in public service recruitment to support families affected by the Liberation War, help underprivileged groups progress, and integrate minorities into society. However, over time, quotas accounted for over 55% of government jobs, leaving less than 45% based on merit. The quota breakdown included 30% for freedom fighters, 10% district quotas, 10% for women, and 5% for indigenous communities, alongside provisions for disabled individuals if candidates for the other quotas were unavailable.

Over the years, the system saw little reform. Reports of widespread abuse of the quota system, coupled with instability in the private job market, drew young people's attention to government jobs. This led to the first quota reform movement in 2013, although it achieved limited success. In 2018, a stronger wave of protests was led by student organizations such as the Student Rights Council under Nurul Haque Nur and Hasan Al Mamun. Responding to their demands, the government abolished quotas for 9th to 13th-grade positions on October 4, 2018.

However, the movement fractured by 2020. In October 2023, Akhtar Hossain and Nahid Hasan formed the Democratic Student Force, which spearheaded the larger Anti-Discrimination Student Movement of 2024. The movement saw participation from private university students and gained massive public support after police fired on protesters.

How Student Movement Led to Fall of Sheikh Hasina

In June 2024, the High Court declared the 2018 abolition of quotas unconstitutional following a petition by the Freedom Fighters' Descendants’ Council. This judgment fueled anger among students, who demanded the complete abolition of discriminatory quotas. A series of protests ensued, culminating in the nationwide "Bangla Blockade" on July 6.

The government’s response escalated tensions. Statements by Awami League leaders and police crackdowns intensified clashes. On July 16, attacks on protesters by members of the ruling party's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), resulted in the deaths of six students. This included high-profile incidents such as the police shooting of Abu Saeed at Begum Rokeya University, which sparked nationwide outrage.

On July 18, the deployment of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) failed to quell the protests. By July 19, mass demonstrations paralyzed the country. The government imposed curfews, shut down internet services, and deployed the military. Despite these measures, the movement's momentum grew, with protesters presenting an eight-point charter of demands that included the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.

The movement took a more violent turn after July 26, with block raids and the arrests of over 9,000 individuals, including six key leaders of the movement. On July 30, the students launched their “March for Justice” campaign, culminating in the massive “Remembering Our Heroes” event on August 3.

On August 4, the protesters declared a nationwide strike and called for the storming of the Prime Minister’s residence. By August 5, faced with overwhelming public pressure, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.

The protests, which began as a demand for quota reform, evolved into a mass uprising against the government. On August 5 alone, clashes between protesters and law enforcement left 294 dead. Between July 16 and August 5, an estimated 772 people lost their lives. The interim government, led by General Wakar-uz-Zaman, took charge. The Awami League's headquarters and symbolic locations like the Bangabandhu Memorial in Dhanmondi were set on fire by enraged protesters.

The Human Rights Support Society reported that the government and ruling party’s actions during the protests were some of the most violent in Bangladesh’s history. Sheikh Hasina's fall marked a turning point in the nation's political landscape, driven by the determination of its youth and their fight against discrimination.