This article was originally published on July 18, 2024.

Violence in Bangladesh has killed at least six people and injured hundreds after students took to the streets to demand reforms to a quota system that governs the distribution of government jobs.

Here are details of the protests and their history:

What triggered the protests

The demonstrations started last month after the High Court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to scrap it.

That move, which covered the 30 per cent of jobs reserved for family members of freedom fighters in the 1971 war for independence, followed similar student protests.

But the Supreme Court suspended the high court order after the government’s appeal, setting a date of August 7 to hear the government’s challenge.

However, the students stepped up their protest when Hasina refused to meet their demands, citing the court proceedings.

What is the quota system

Introduced in 1972, Bangladesh’s quota system has gone through several changes since.

When it was abolished in 2018, 56 per cent of government jobs were blocked under various quotas.

The bulk covered groups such as freedom fighters’ families, with women and those from underdeveloped districts receiving a share of a tenth each, with 5 per cent allotted to indigenous communities, and 1 per cent for the disabled.

The protesting students want all categories abolished, except the last two.

What sparked the violence

The protests turned violent this week following clashes between thousands of anti-quota demonstrators and members of the student wing of Hasina’s Awami League party. Police fired rubber bullets and hurled sound grenades and tear gas to scatter protesters who also blocked railway tracks and major roads.

What do the students fear

Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, who led its freedom movement. Protesters and critics say the 30 per cent quota for families of freedom fighters favours Awami League supporters, which led the independence fight.

Experts also attribute the unrest to stagnant job growth in the private sector, making public sector jobs, with their accompanying regular wage hikes and privileges, very attractive.

The quotas shrink the number of government jobs open for all, hurting aspirants who want them filled based on merit.

They have sparked anger among students grappling with high youth unemployment, as nearly 32 million young people are out of work or education from a population of 170m.

The economy, once among the world’s fastest-growing, has stagnated, inflation hovers around 10pc, and dollar reserves are shrinking.

What Hasina said

The protests are the first challenge to Hasina’s government since she won a fourth consecutive term in January in elections boycotted by the main opposition. She has condemned the loss of lives and called for patience until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.