Bangladesh Riots: Why are thousands of students protesting against PM Sheikh Hasina? Is Pakistan Army, ISI behind unrest?

What started as peaceful student protests in Bangladesh over a quota system for government jobs has escalated into a significant challenge and uprising against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League party. As per local media reports, PM Hasina has resinged and left the country ni an army helicopter after protesters announced plans to march to the capital, Dhaka, on Monday after a weekend of violence that resulted in numerous fatalities. The military has imposed an indefinite curfew, and authorities have cut off internet access in efforts to control the unrest.

Also Read: Bangladesh Protests Live Updates

Earlier, nearly 100 people were killed on Sunday as clashes between police and anti-government protesters intensified. The student protests, initially focused on abolishing quotas in civil service jobs, have now grown into a broader anti-government movement.

What students are protesting against PM Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh?

The mass protests in Bangladesh began as student demonstrations demanding reforms to the civil service quota system. Students argued that the existing quotas unfairly benefited loyalists of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party, the Awami League.

The protests grew as demonstrators expressed broader discontent with Hasina’s government, which they accuse of autocratic practices and suppressing dissent. The government’s response, including closing schools and universities, failed to ease the unrest.

Also Read: Sheikh Hasina Resigns

A Supreme Court ruling against reintroducing job quotas did not fully satisfy the protesters, who continue to demand the abolition of all job reservations for children of "freedom fighters." This partial concession has done little to quell the movement.

The situation intensified when former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan criticized the government’s handling of the protests and called for troop withdrawal. This, along with the current army chief's supportive stance toward the protesters, has further fueled the unrest.

Is Pakistan ISI behind Bangladesh Unrest?

ET reported earlier that Chattra Shibir, the student wing of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, allegedly backed by Pakistan's ISI, is inciting violence and turning student protests into a political movement in Bangladesh. Sources told ET that Pakistan’s army and ISI aim to destabilize Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government and restore the opposition BNP to power through protests and street violence. The Hasina administration is closely monitoring the activities of opposition leaders.

While the ISI’s efforts to undermine the Hasina government are not new, the situation has escalated from a student protest over job quotas into a broader political movement, with opposition party members reportedly infiltrating the protest groups. Additionally, the local government is investigating the involvement of Western-backed NGOs in the current crisis, sources noted.

Bangladesh Protest Timeline: Key Events

July 1: Blockades Begin
University students initiated blockades, disrupting roads and railway lines to demand reforms in the quota system for public sector jobs. They claimed the scheme favored loyalists of Hasina's ruling Awami League. Despite winning a fifth term in January, Hasina dismissed the protests, stating students were "wasting their time."

July 16: Violence Intensifies
Violence escalated with the first recorded deaths of six people following clashes between protesters and pro-government supporters in Dhaka. Hasina's government responded by closing schools and universities nationwide.

July 18: Prime Minister Rebuffed
Students rejected Hasina's appeal for calm and continued to demand her resignation. Protesters chanted "down with the dictator," and torched the headquarters of Bangladesh Television along with other government buildings. The government imposed an internet blackout to curb the unrest. Clashes left at least 32 people dead and hundreds injured, despite a curfew and soldier deployment.

July 21: Supreme Court Verdict
Bangladesh's Supreme Court ruled against reintroducing job quotas, a decision critics viewed as aligning with Hasina's government. However, the verdict did not satisfy protesters' demands to abolish job reservations for children of "freedom fighters" from Bangladesh's 1971 independence war.

August 4: Army Sides with Protesters
On Sunday, hundreds of thousands clashed with government supporters again, resulting in 68 deaths, including 14 police officers. Former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to withdraw troops and condemned the killings. Current army chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated the armed forces "always stood by the people."

Call for Final Protest
Leaders of the civil disobedience campaign called on supporters to march on Dhaka for a "final protest" on Monday, escalating the confrontation with the government.