Bangladesh Roundup: Protests, judicial probe, inflation

Protesters reject government mourning

Bangladeshi students reject government mourning and demand justice for those killed in recent protests seeking quota reform in public service. The government announced a countrywide mourning for the nearly 200 killed during the recent events but students accuse the government of shedding "crocodile tears" and holding a "mockery" instead of holding trial for mass killing and repression. The protests began in early July after the High Court ordered the government to restore the 30 percent employment quota reserved for the descendants of freedom fighters from Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war. EFE reports that the protests escalated on July 15, with the first deaths reported the following day.

Foreign technical assistance for judicial probe

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the government would take foreign technical assistance for the judicial probe committee formed to investigate the deaths during the quota movement, aiming to ensure proper and standard inquiry. The prime minister said this while German ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban on July 30.PM’s press secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed reporters after the call on. The government formed a judicial probe committee with High Court Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman to probe all the deaths centring on the quota reform movement in the country. Organiser, New Age reports.

Bangladesh mourns killed protesters

Bangladesh observed a day of mourning for over 200 people killed in recent violence stemming from student protests against the country's quota system for government jobs. The protests escalated into violence on July 15, leading to thousands of arrests. The government defended the arrests as necessary for maintaining order, while rights groups accused the government of using excessive force. The government also announced plans to ban the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party and its student wing. According to the OPB, the Supreme Court ordered the quota to be cut to 5%, which was accepted by the government. The status of the 1971 war veterans remains a charged issue. Internet services were restored, but social media platforms remained blocked.

Islamist party banned

Bangladesh will ban the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islaami, and its student wing, Shibir, after deadly nationwide unrest. The decision, made by the governing coalition, comes after the Election Commission deregistered Jamaat in 2018. According to Gulf News, the government is also working towards normalcy after violent protests and will take foreign technical assistance for a judicial probe committee. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the ban on Jamaat and Shibir, stating it was to eliminate anti-national forces.

Inflation

Bangladesh garment workers are struggling with low wages as inflation soars. The government increased the minimum wage, but it is still below union demands. This led to clashes between police and workers, with many workers facing criminal charges and job loss. Trade unions are demanding an end to harassment and fair compensation for workers. The minimum wage should be implemented across all garment factories in the country, Just Style reports.