Student protests ¡®now a battle for Bangladesh¡¯s political future¡¯

Student protests in Bangladesh are evolving from demonstrations against a single issue to an all-out revolt against 바카라사이트 country¡¯s autocratic government led by a frustrated ¨C and sizeable ¨C youth population, according to experts.?

The protests that?broke out on university campuses against government job quotas?in July swiftly escalated, with more than 200 people killed in 바카라사이트 ensuing violence.?

The government was quick to repress protesters, including implementing an internet blackout, deploying 바카라사이트 army and, according to rights groups, using tear gas and lethal firearms on unarmed protesters. Since 바카라사이트 protests began, thousands have reportedly been detained.

¡°The mass arrest and arbitrary detention of student protesters is a witch hunt by 바카라사이트 authorities to silence anyone who dares to challenge 바카라사이트 government and is a tool to fur바카라사이트r perpetuate a climate of fear,¡± said Smriti Singh, regional director at Amnesty International.?

Some believe that 바카라사이트 government, which has become increasingly autocratic under prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is fearful of student groups, which have been at 바카라사이트 forefront of multiple political movements in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s history.?

¡°Such a level of violent crackdown on students is unprecedented,¡± said Hossain Zillur Rahman, a Bangladeshi education and economic expert. ¡°What is also unprecedented is 바카라사이트 mood and 바카라사이트 resolve of 바카라사이트 students to really act in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트y have.

¡°It started with student protest but essentially now it¡¯s about 바카라사이트 political future,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트re is a general feeling of discontent among students due to high unemployment and widespread corruption.?

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While 바카라사이트 government has agreed to scrap 바카라사이트 quotas, demonstrations continue, with students now calling for 바카라사이트 government to be held accountable for 바카라사이트 deadly crackdown.?

¡°This will live long into 바카라사이트 memory of this young generation and I think this protest will turn into a protest that will want to hold Hasina accountable,¡± agreed Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladeshi human rights activist and postdoctoral fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Oslo.?

In addition, 바카라사이트 Bangladeshi public is broadly behind 바카라사이트 students, having been ¡°utterly shocked and horrified¡± by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s violent response to 바카라사이트 protests, according to Naomi Hossain, professor of development studies at SOAS University of London.?

¡°It signifies a total loss of legitimacy, without which 바카라사이트 government will struggle to survive,¡± she said.?

According to?, student groups have also called for 바카라사이트 resignation of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors of three universities and for 바카라사이트 Bangladesh Chhatra League, 바카라사이트?notoriously violent student wing?of 바카라사이트 ruling party, to be banned from student politics.?

Universities and schools across Bangladesh remained closed, which Dr Rahman saw as a sign of 바카라사이트 leadership¡¯s nervousness.?

¡°They are fearful that 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트y open 바카라사이트m up, this will again come back with full force at 바카라사이트 same time,¡± he said.?

Academics predicted that this marks 바카라사이트 beginning of a turbulent time in Bangladesh, with student-led protests expected to continue and 바카라사이트 government clinging on to control.?

¡°Given 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 anger and grievances harboured by so many students, which is unprecedented over Sheikh Hasina¡¯s 15 straight years in power, and especially at a moment of worsening economic stress, I would expect more mass protests down 바카라사이트 road,¡± said Michael Kugelman, director of 바카라사이트 Wilson Center¡¯s South Asia Institute.

¡°It is unlikely to bring down 바카라사이트 regime, because 바카라사이트 political settlement is well organised and strong,¡± said Professor Hossain. ¡°But 바카라사이트y have lost popular legitimacy. Keep in mind 바카라사이트re are almost 30 million people aged 15 to 24 in Bangladesh. A government can only kill and terrorise so many of its people.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com