Newsman: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Bangladesh has issued a press statement on ongoing anti-quota protests in Bangladesh and siad ,a lot of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news have been circulating both in social media as well as traditional media regarding the issue.
“Recently, a lot of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news have been circulating both in social media as well as traditional media concerning the 2024 anti-quota protests in Bangladesh,” reads the statement.
The statement released by Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, on Sunday said, that the government is yet to complete its assessment of the total losses and damages inflicted so far in last few days protests across the country. the statement has also said it( statement) will provide the accurate context and information for all concerned.
The statement in full read out ; –
The Context
The current anti-quota protests started recently after the High Court Division of the Supreme Court cancelled a 2018 government declaration which abolished all quotas for first- and second-class government jobs in Bangladesh. It should be noted that the 2018 declaration came following students protests demanding quota-reforms.
It’s important to note that the government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had already implemented the subject matter of the protests, i.e. protesters’ demands for quota reform/abolition more than five years ago. Thus, when the current protests started, the positions of the government and the protestors were not incompatible.
This was further reconfirmed when the government itself moved to the highest court of the land, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court ruling. Not only that, the government, through the Attorney General’s Office, the government secured a four-week status quo order, effectively suspending the High Court ruling until the Appellate Division could hear the final appeal. The final appeal was initially scheduled for August 7, 2024. However, recognizing the urgency of the matter, the government requested an earlier date. The Supreme Court granted this request, moving the hearing to July 20, 2024. On July 20, the Appellate Division overturned the High Court decision, and observed that the government could consider merit only recruitment for 93%, and reserve quotas for 7%.
The urgency with which the government handled the legal aspects of the subject matter of the protests is further proof of the government’s sincerity in this regard. Additionally, for days on end, the protests continued, with full cooperation of, and security from, the government in general, and the law enforcement agencies in particular. In a significant gesture of openness, the government facilitated the delivery of protesters’ memorandums not only to the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh but also to executive heads in every district across the country. Additionally, the Prime Minister, through her address to the nation, as well as the concerned ministers in her cabinet have repeatedly emphasized on dialogue to resolve any issues.
However, there was always a chance that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its extremist ally the Jamaat-E-Islami would try to take advantage of the student protests to enact their own agenda, i.e. an unconstitutional power grab through violence and terrorism in Bangladesh, as has been demonstrated by this particular political group amply since 2013 onwards. This fear came true as demonstrated in the violence perpetrated by them in the last few days, while trying to use the non-violent and non-political anti-quota protestors as a shield.
The government demonstrated its commitment to dialogue by initiating discussions with the protesting students. At the Prime Minister’s direction, a committee of three ministers—the Law Minister, Education Minister, and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting—met with the coordinators of the Quota Reform Movement at the State Guest House-Padma. The coordinators presented their 8-point demand to the committee.
Following this meeting, the Law Minister expressed optimism about reaching a viable solution to the crisis. Importantly, when addressing the press, the protest coordinators unequivocally denied any involvement of their group in the violent incidents, further distinguishing their peaceful movement from the destructive actions of other parties.
The repeated statements from anti-quota protest leaders disowning and condemning the violence confirmed that the violence came from the vested quarter, and had nothing to do with the anti-quota protests. Even the Prime Minister herself, in her address to the nation, was very clear that the government is making a clear distinction between the non-political and non-violent protests of the students and the wanton violence unleashed by the vested quarter to serve their own narrow interests.
As regards the clashes between protestors, student organizations, and law enforcement agents, and the resulting loss of lives, the government has formed a judicial commission, headed by a serving High Court judge, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, to investigate each and every incident of death connected to the protests. The Prime Minister, in her address to the nation, assured everyone that none connected to these killings will escape the accountability of the justice system. The government also mourns the loss of all innocent lives. The Prime Minister has already declared that the government would be taking responsibility of all affected families.
The Violence
While the government is yet to complete its assessment of the total losses and damages inflicted so far, the main targets of the criminals have so far been law enforcement officials, journalists, public and private transport, and important government establishments, installations, and properties. Another hallmark has been widespread looting of public and private properties, wherever such opportunities arose. Here are some of the highlights of the violence unleashed by the vested quarter in the last few days:
– Burning down and looting the four-storied Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) offices in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
– Attacking, burning down, and looting the central offices of the national television, Bangladesh Television (BTV) in Rampura, Dhaka.
– Burning down numerous expensive and important equipment belonging to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
– Burning down and/or vandalizing two metro rail stations in Dhaka (Mirpur 10 and Kazipara). It is estimated that at least one year will be required to reopen these almost new stations.
– Attacking the maternal and child health centers, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the immunization center, the internationally renowned ICDDR, and the health data storage center located in Mnohakhali, Dhaka.
– Burning down and vandalizing the Disaster Management and Relief Bhaban.
– Attacking several post offices and passport offices across Bangladesh.
– Attacking and burning down hundreds of police stations and police boxes across the country
– Sabotaging the rail lines across the country to cut off this important mode of long-distance public transportation.
– Attacking and burning down toll-plazas of Mayor Hanif Flyover and the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
– Attacking the central national data center in Mohakhali, Dhaka, one of the backbones of internet infrastructure in Bangladesh, which resulted in the country losing internet connectivity with the rest of the world. This has severely restricted all ICT-related functions of the country, including international aviation, banking etc.
– Attacking the district jail of Narsingdi, resulting in a chaotic jailbreak that led to several hundred prisoners escaping, including two convicted jihadist terrorists, and the looting of the jail’s arsenal as well as plundering of the jail officials’ residential quarters.
– Burning down and vandalizing at least 150 vehicles belonging to various government departments. At least 3 buses belonging to the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) were burnt down. Additionally, more than a hundred vehicles, mainly cars and bikes, belonging to the citizens of the country have been subjected to the same treatment. 5 train coaches have been burnt, while 2 more have been vandalized. 2 train stations too, have been vandalized.
It was in this context of the sinister and calculated violence targeting lives and properties that the government had to take the difficult decision to deploy the armed forces to aid the law enforcement agencies, as well as imposing curfew. The decision was taken after much deliberation to prevent further loss of lives, safeguard public and private properties, and upholding the national security of the country.
