site.btaCorruption, Public-Sector Job Quotas Top List of Bangladesh's Problems, Local Journalists Tell BTA in Exclusive Interview

Journalists Imran Uz-Zaman of Bangladesh's largest and main television station BTV National Television and Mahadi Hasan Shimul of the private satellite and cable channel Boishaki TV singled out corruption and the quota system of appointments to public-sector jobs as their country's main problems that triggered a wave of nationwide protests and the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed after 15 years in office.

Sheikh Hasina resigned after thousands of angry protesters stormed her official residence, defying a police curfew.

Zaman explained that the government fell after the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the recently outlawed Jamaat-e-Islami joined the students' anti-quota movement. The heavy loss of life during the protests only precipitated the events. Shimul specified that the controversial quota system reserving 30% of certain positions in the government sector for "freedom fighters" loyal to Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. This quota was re-instated by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on June 5, after a judgment to this effect was revoked in 2018 after massive student and teacher protests. On Sunday, the Prime Minister added fuel to the fire when she compared the protesters to the Razakar paramilitary force that collaborated with Islamabad and committed war crimes during the war for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.  

Replying to a question, Uz-Zaman said that Sheikh Hasina went too far and estranged herself from the people. Ordinary Bangladeshis were disappointed with her arrogance, and corruption among civil servants reached unprecedented proportions. The Prime Minister has left for a country friendly to the Awami League, where she will be safe. There is no way back to politics for her.

The journalist pointed out that while students spearheaded the protest movement, their presence cannot be seen now, including in the formation of a new government. The presence of Jamaat, however, is shocking to ordinary people as they are war criminals from the war for independence.

The new government that will be formed is apparently controlled by the military, said Uz-Zaman. Hence, the chances of resistance are slim.

Shimul specified that the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement formed a 65-member coordination team to speed up a rational reform of the quota system. The four main coordinators are students at Dhaka University. Later on, all opposition political parties joined them. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said that students, civil society and the politicians participating in the protest will share in the next interim government.

Asked about the role of the army in current developments, Uz-Zaman said that after the Prime Minister's resignation, the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, is coordinating the formation of an interim government, even though he was appointed by Sheikh Hasina's government despite the opposition's disapproval. Shimul added that the General had said that he had assumed responsibility for the life and property of the people and will meet all their demands. He also pledged that every killing will be punished and every injustice tried. The Chief of Army Staff said he had invited the leaders of all parties to the formation of an interim government. He had ordered the army and the police not to open fire at the protesters. He will be seeking a way out of the situation, but this may take a couple of days.

Replying to a question about the changes expected in the country after the fall of the government, Uz-Zaman said that both ordinary people and civil society want an elimination of corruption. Shimul quoted Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinator Nahid Islam as declaring that he will propose an interim national government and will not support any government other than such backed or proposed by the students, regardless of whether it is supported by the army or by the President. The revolutionary student mass would not agree to such a government.

Uz-Zaman said that, while there are no signs of a foreign involvement in the protests, India is a staunch ally of the Awami League government, whereas the US has openly supported BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. For his part, Shimul said that what matters most is that Sheikh Hasina's government established a dictatorship in the course of years and people were angered by the powerholders' abuses. 

Asked whether the protests would affect the Bangladeshi economy, Uz-Zaman said that all enterprises have stopped work over the last 18 days of protests. The apparel industry said they were sustaining huge losses as the deadlines for lots of international orders have been missed.

Shimul accused the government of attacking Bangladeshis working abroad even though their remittances are essential for the country's economy. The workers were outraged by the killings of members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the massive-scale arrests, the curfew, law-enforcers' brutality against students and the suspension of the internet. They staged anti-quota demonstrations and an anti-government campaign in various countries around the world and even threatened to stop making remittances through legal channels while that government was in power. On the other hand, the suspension of the internet started to affect negatively the apparel industry. Clothing traders say that many foreign customers opted for purchases in alternative countries after the online shops shut down. Experts estimate that the country lost at least USD 10 billion over the last few days because of the protests. Traders in export-oriented goods are experiencing the same problems. The markets in the capital Dhaka and the small-sized enterprises are closed, public transport services are limited, and members of various occupations face enormous financial losses.

The government has to find a way to stabilize the situation in the country, the Bangladeshi journalist told BTA.