"Bangladesh Student Protests Evolve into Massive Uprising Against Authoritarian Rule"

Critics argue that the severity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s crackdown on protests highlights her growing anxiety and a crumbling atmosphere of fear. Hasan, who still has metal pellets lodged deep in his bones from police fire, has been hiding for a week, fearing arrest for participating in the widespread protests that have swept Bangladesh this month. He describes living in "constant panic and trauma," fearing that the sound of a car or motorbike might signal the arrival of police.

When Hasan, a 33-year-old telecommunications graduate, joined the protests in Dhaka at the beginning of July, they were initially peaceful. Students nationwide mobilized against the reintroduction of job quotas, which allocated 30% of government jobs to descendants of those who fought in the 1971 independence war. This move, though sanctioned by the courts, was widely viewed as a political maneuver by Hasina, who many believe used her influence over the judiciary to benefit her Awami League party, potentially filling government positions with loyalists.

The decision incited outrage among students already grappling with economic difficulties and high youth unemployment. As the protests grew, the response from authorities turned violent. The situation deteriorated into a bloody conflict, with reports of around 200 deaths and thousands injured.

The Guardian observed the Rapid Action Battalion using tear gas from helicopters and the military firing on protesters with light machine guns. Amnesty International’s analysis confirmed the use of tear gas and lethal weapons, including shotguns, assault rifles, and grenade launchers, by police and paramilitary forces against unarmed protesters. UN human rights chief Volker Türk has called for an independent investigation into the “horrific violence.”

The intensity of the crackdown has led many to see the protests not merely as a response to quotas but as a broader movement against Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian regime. Hasan, who chose to remain anonymous for safety reasons, argues that the prime minister’s long tenure and her strengthening grip on state mechanisms have led to a perception of invincibility. “This has become a mass movement against a dictator,” Hasan said, condemning Hasina’s rule and the violent response to the protests.

Hasan was at a Dhaka university protest last week when government-backed student groups and riot police launched a violent assault. “We were attacked from all sides by police and thugs,” he recounted. The police used stun grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets, and metal pellets. Hasan was hit multiple times, requiring surgery to remove pellets embedded in his bones.

Similarly, Faria, a 23-year-old economics student, reported being beaten by Chhatra League members and later caught in tear gas and gunfire. She witnessed a fellow protester fall, gravely injured, and struggles with nightmares from the incident.

Hasina has blamed political opposition and Islamist groups for the violence, claiming her deployment of forces was meant to protect students. Over 2,500 opposition members have been arrested. Exiled political analyst Mubashar Hasan pointed out that violent crackdowns have been a hallmark of Hasina’s rule, with numerous killings, enforced disappearances, and rigged elections.

He noted that the current protests reflect a significant challenge to Hasina’s rule, showing a weakening of her previously unassailable position. “The strength of the crackdown reveals her nervousness. The climate of fear is breaking down,” he said.

After the court reduced the job quotas to 5%, student leaders paused their demonstrations, seeking justice for those killed and demanding an apology from Hasina. With no response from the government by the deadline, activists plan further actions but face obstacles due to arrests, alleged torture, and surveillance.

Despite the current calm under an indefinite curfew, Hasan remains resolute. “The protest is not over,” he said. “The government may think it has won, but it hasn’t. The movement is in a resting phase and will come back stronger. The prime minister is weakening, and next time, even the army won’t be able to suppress us.”