Students have taken to the streets in Bangladesh, protesting against the quota system in government jobs. A third of the positions in the government go to the families of those recognized as ‘heroes’ of the 1971 war of independence of Bangladesh against Pakistan. Students demonstrate against this quota system, arguing it is discriminatory and pointing out that government jobs should be based on merit.

The protests have escalated into violent clashes, killing 25 people and leaving hundreds injured. Authorities confirmed fatalities in Dhaka and other places, while demonstrations led to the cutting of internet services and an attack on the state TV building.

The statement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, in which she compared the protesting students to ‘Razakars,’ a terminology used for collaborators with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war, acted as the catalyst for heightened tensions. This was a comparison that angered the students immensely, and this supposedly triggered violence at the hands of backers of the ruling Awami League.

Even after the government’s assurance that the Prime Minister’s statement had been misinterpreted, the demonstrations continue. The Bangladeshi government sent paramilitary forces to major cities as a measure to keep things under control. Partial and unfair, the quota system should be scrapped once and for all, protesters want.