#quota reform protest

[sasucaty]

Police are now arresting online teachers and musicians who made songs supporting the students protests. It's so absurd that no one has the freedom of speech to support what's right anymore.

[leviraaaaaa]

Won't you save the students? Defenseless kids, who only wanted rights? Will you not scream for the injured? March with the protesters? Will you not cry for justice, for the mothers with empty arms? Tell me, why is there blood on the streets?

[curtwilde]

All the Bangladeshi accounts on here who had been updating about the protests are deadly silent since yesterday too. I hope you all are okay.

[vhstown]

hi please read this thread by my friend rodoshi who is a university student in bangladesh atm !! it is still very unsafe for people and this thread is very informative and up-to-date

if you want to read it on twitter open the thread here

[dadboddean]

the quota reform protests in bangladesh have turned into something i don’t think anyone could’ve foreseen. within the last two days, they have an internet shutdown and a curfew and military presence in place. i have not been able to contact anyone other than my father for two minutes overall in this time. if you are seeing the posts or threads please please please take the time to read and repost them on social media. there needs to be international solidarity as the government isolates the country from any outside contact.

STEP DOWN SHEIKH HASINA

দেশটা কারো বাপের না

[blandlava]

source

[b-h-art]

" রাশিয়ায় ছিল জেনারেল উইনটার, আমাদের জেনারেল মুনসুন"

[thatdeshigirl]

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BANGLADESH?

Students of college, universities and even high schools in Bangladesh have taken to the streets in a mass movement named the "Bangla Blockade" demanding the eradication of the quota system. The quota system reserves a massive percentage of the government jobs for specific groups of people. These jobs are earned by sitting for the Bangladesh Civil Service exams.

Effectively, only 46% of the jobs are left to be contested by merit.

The biggest quota sectors are NOT for the disabled, or indigenous people or for women.

THIRTY PERCENT of the jobs are reserved for children and grandchildren of registered freedom fighters.

The police and political wings are using violence on the protesters. Images of armed men beating up women with sticks and rods are going viral. Spread the word. We need more people talking about this.

Link to an Instagram post with information that you can share.

[leviraaaaaa]

I have a friend who lives in Dhaka and he's out there right now. He's 17. Right now, the most trending post that everyone is sharing is an article on how to protect yourself from grenades, tear shells, rubber bullets etc. They also mention to wear heavy and thick clothes so you don't get hurt too much. They're still getting hurt. School kids, I'm letting you know. Underage, school kids. They've never even touched a weapon in their life but now each of them has a stick in their hand. I'm another 17 year old. I'm telling my 17 year old friend that it's going to be okay. Nothing's going to happen to him. That I'm so, so fucking proud of him. Isn't it crazy how we're just fucking kids? Isn't it crazy how brave they are? How brave these kids are? They break a hand, that's okay. They wrap it around bandages and go out again the next day. To every person who's out there, fighting, I want to let you know that I'm proud of you. We're all proud of you. Don't give up.

[curtwilde]

Hi, can I see the press release, please?

Here!

[firefistjaigio]

I have genuinely only been able to think about Bangladesh rn the fear I have is so immense and I have no idea if people there are ok rn, idk if my family is ok rn. I have no clue what violence is occurring there rn and I have only seen previous examples like tanks on the streets and police sniping student protestors from rooftops and news of many people like a 7th grader being killed and it burns me to see barely anyone fucking talk about it or share anything about it, besides the diaspora rn and some good folks, does the world even fucking care when people are suffering

[khush-chronicles]

When the sky bleeds along with its people

[passing-through-bd]

STUDENT PROTESTS IN BANGLADESH

Injuries and casualties are rising!!! Thousands injured. Children dead.

Are you aware of the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh? All schools and universities have been shut down. Even the primary schools in cities. It has led to violence. There have been casualties. All because the students (18-25/26 year olds) wanted an equal foot in the job market.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/16/asia/bangladesh-protests-quote-intl-latam/index.html This is a CNN article on this topic. But casualties are rising. We need international support if we are to have any chance at a better future.

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/lecture-halls-the-streets-universities-submerged-dual-protests-3651751 Here is a local newspaper's coverage.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/bangladesh-witness-testimony-video-and-photographic-analysis-confirm-police-used-unlawful-force-against-protesters/ Amnesty International's article.

https://x.com/UNHumanRights/status/1813553026357162061 UN Human Rights also commented on this subject.

The network is being impacted.

#savebangladeshistudents

[the-stars-were-his]

[colesstar]

I feel like I haven’t seen anything about what’s happening in Bangladesh within my circle of tumblr so a little geography for everyone!! Disclaimer i am not the most educated this is mostly what I’ve heard from family and different news sources please do do your own research as well!!

Summary: There was an internet blackout orchestrated by the government as a result of student protests (peaceful protests might I add) these protests were met with brutality over 200 lives lost (officially) and over 20000 injured

Why are they protesting?

30% of government jobs (some of the most high paying and sought after jobs in bangladesh) are reserved for relatives of people who fought in 1971 (when they fought for independence)

Why is this a problem?

The way of deciding whether you are in this bracket or not is very corrupt, students can work as hard as possible yet once they graduate there is a limited number of jobs to apply to. Spots they worked towards are essentially reserved despite the efforts put in.

What happened as a result of the protests?

Injustice to put it short. Student protesters were attacked and beaten taking lives and injuring others. Students are also being attacked within university halls and dorms. On top of this there was a nationwide internet blackout which cut off peoples communication to family abroad, which also limited news coverage. For a country like Bangladesh it wouldn’t be unheard of for something like this to not reach many areas of the world but the blackout is just contributing to it

What’s happening now?

As of now and my knowledge internet is back up however social media is limited without a VPN. Given the age range affected social media would be their way of speaking out.

It’s terrifying how much is going in to silence a groups fight for freedom in the name of “honouring” veterans. Parents and relatives have spent so much into putting their children into good education yet the government isn’t even giving them the opportunity to try.

[thatdeshigirl]

JULY 18TH

Students have organised a nationwide blockade. There are talks of the BSL (the student wing of the ruling political party) planning to engage in violent clashes with the students joining the protests. The students are from high schools, colleges and universities.

When locals joined the protest yesterday in support of the students, shots were fired at them at a place called Shonir Akhra, including at a two-year old child.