Students in Bangladesh have taken to the streets en masse against plans to reintroduce quotas for new recruitment in the public sector.

The quotas have to do with giving a head start to the descendants of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence, who would take up 30 percent of each new recruitment notice. In effect, the government is supporting the re-establishment of a mechanism to staff the civil service with its chosen people. Typically, students who oppose this kind of quota are in favour of quotas for disabled and indigenous people.

The state response is common to exploitative class societies everywhere: Repression! More than 100 people were injured in Monday’s demonstrations that managed to freeze, even if only for a short time, the implementation of the measure. Then there was chaos. Curfews, internet blackout, closure of schools and universities, arrests, and the state did not even hesitate to carry out murders, together with paramilitary groups, which are very reminiscent of the action of similar extreme right-wing groups in Greece before, during and after the Junta.

Today in Bangladesh, there have been hundreds arrested, more than 100 dead, thousands injured and the number is constantly increasing. The rise of authoritarianism is global and is now visible even in the eyes of the most sceptical.

As the Youth of MERA25 we support the just struggle of the Bangladeshi student movement, which has already succeeded in stopping the reintroduction of quotas in court, and continues to fight against authoritarianism. As the Youth of MERA25 we support every voice demanding justice and real democracy.

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