Bangladesh witnessed an unprecedented anarchy and suffocating situation for more than a week centered on the quota reform movement. In the last four decades, such an anarchic situation has never arisen in the country. A special group, under the guise of the quota reform movement, chose the path of terrible sabotage and terror. The peaceful movement for quota reform turned violent all of a sudden when saboteurs infiltrated the movement. The charred trail of dozens of public offices, including government establishments, arson on private properties, and the setting of fire to dozens of buses bears the hallmark of planned sabotage.

By Kamal Uddin Mazumder

The anti-discrimination student movement began peacefully on July 1st. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Attorney General moved the hearing date for the Quota-related case to July 21. In a television address, the prime minister asked the agitated students to wait until the case was heard. She also expressed hope that the students would get justice in the court. The government expressed a flexible stance, proposing dialogue with the agitators and accepting all their demands. Sensing the potential danger, the leaders of the quota reform movement issued a statement, saying that terrorist activities have nothing to do with the quota reform movement. They will not take responsibility for any terrorist activities. However, by that point, the momentum of the movement had completely shifted away from the ordinary students. Certain political forces, mixed with the students and chose a path of terror and sabotage, turning the peaceful protest violence. The situation worsened when the police used force and fired tear gas shells at certain locations to control the mob.

Bloodshed and endless damage

On Thursday evening, July 18, the students returned home, but a disguised terrorist force took control of the streets and went on a rampage throughout Friday. They began disseminating false information on social media, claiming hundreds of students’ deaths, and then set fire to various buildings and structures. They have destroyed a significant number of important installations like the country’s National Broadcasting Centre (BTV), Setu Bhavan, Metrorail, Elevated Expressway, Disaster Management Building, BRTA Building, and Directorate of Health. They set fire to around 200 vehicles. The destruction of the Mirpur 10 and Kazipara metro rail stations prevents their reopening for at least a year. The toll plaza of Banani, Mohakhali Tejgaon, of the elevated expressway has been set on fire. The media, the fire service, the city corporation’s garbage truck, and no other emergency services were among the vandals’ targets. The vandals selectively attacked police stations and outposts.

There have been horrific attacks not just in the capital but also in other places of the country. Narsingdi Jail was the site of a terrorist attack. 826 prisoners were able to escape with about 100 firearms and thousands of bullets. Among them are nine dangerous militants. Never before have so many convicts, including nine militants, escaped from jail in Bangladesh. In addition, terrorists entered two bus depots in Narayanganj and Madaripur and set hundreds of buses on fire. They targeted numerous police outposts, offices of various organs of the ruling party, the mayor’s office, and ATM booths.

The burning of the data centre in Mohakhali has isolated Bangladesh from the rest of the world. The internet service shutdown has effectively brought everything to a standstill, including digital banking, communication, commerce, various services, offices, and courts. Even in the absence of the internet, rumors like Prime Minister has fled the country, Khaleda Zia’ died, coup by army officers, attack on Prime Minister’s residence and multiplied number of death counts and injuries spread. If there was internet, the country would have turned into a rumor factory, and situational control might not have been so easy.

Such a level of destruction had not been carried out by general students. In a highly planned way, infiltrators chose some ‘strategic points’ in different parts of the country including the capital Dhaka and carried out mass destruction. They unleash violence to cut off Dhaka from the rest of the country. As part of the plan, they blocked all entry points connecting the capital, such as Dhaka-Chattogram highway and Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. Terrorists have made their’ sanctuaries’ at several points in the capital, including Mohakhali, Jatrabari, Rampura, Badda, Mohammadpur, Bachila, Uttara, and Mirpur, and conducted hellish activities.

It is obvious that non-student elements, including those that are political, have become players in the crisis. For political purposes, these forces have joined, fueled, and incited the non-political student movement. Students did not come to demand a change of government; it was a completely apolitical movement. Therefore, there is no justification for them to destroy the government establishments. There is no justification for attacking the Narsingdi prison and taking away the militants. The media also reported that the students were not responsible for these sabotage. The anti-government forces that joined in disguise wreaked havoc across the country in order to implement their political agenda.

Curfew: A tremendous relief

The government declared a nationwide curfew for the shortest period of time starting at midnight on Friday. Government declared curfew and brought the army to the aid of civilian administration as a last resort. The government had to resort to this measure to halt the unimaginable violence citizens have been experiencing over the past few days, particularly on Friday. The army has been handling the situation carefully to restore law and order.

Typically, people panic at the news of a curfew or army deployment. But this time the opposite happened. The declaration of the curfew and the army’s deployment on the streets filled everyone with relief. Everyone was waiting for such a decision. The Prime Minister said in an exchange of views with businessmen on Monday (July 22) that the pressure of army deployment was also on her. However, she decided to deploy the army only after the students completely withdrew from the streets. She didn’t want the army to confront the students. In reality, the army’s mission is to safeguard the state’s resources and shield the nation from criminal activity. People have come to view the army as a trusted ally. After the curfew and army deployment, the situation quickly returned to normal. Relief has returned to public life.

Towards peaceful ends

Finally, the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, revoked the HC verdict that had cancelled the government circular regarding quotas. This ruling maintained a 7% quota for government jobs, with 5% reserved for the children of freedom fighters and 2% reserved for tribal, physically challenged, and third-gender individuals. This quota is very close to the proportion that the protesters had demanded. This historic verdict instills hope for a solution to the quota issue, bringing a sense of relief.

Bangladesh has achieved unprecedented economic development and progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in the last 15 years. The country’s economy has become the most dynamic in South Asia. But the violence and deadlock that followed the quota reform movement is a major blow to that economic momentum. If this volatile situation persists for more days, the sufferings of the common people will mount up, and the country’s business sector will sustain a heavy loss, which will result in far-reaching impacts on our economy in the coming days. So, the government promptly took various steps to bring normalcy to the country. The court’s decision regarding quota reform is a positive step towards establishing justice and normalising the violent situation in the country. The government also decided to form a judicial probe commission, led by a High Court judge, to unearth reasons behind the deaths of the students. Government also assures of carrying out investigations to identify the perpetrators who pulled the strings.

Violence-sabotage cannot in any way be acceptable in a democratic political culture. In the current situation, the government has to be much more prudent. It must explore ways and means to foster greater national unity. This violent incident is proof that anti-national forces are much more integrated and powerful. They consistently seek to fish in murky waters. Now there is no alternative but to learn from the mistakes of the past and adopt new strategies of running the country afresh.

Kamal Uddin Mazumder
Security and Strategic Affairs Analyst, Dhaka, Bangladesh.