Bangladeshi students are taking to the streets to protest a proposed government policy that would have seen almost a third of government jobs reserved for the descendants of freedom fighters.

Despite the Supreme Court stepping in to reduce the quotas to 5%, the wave of uncertainty the unrest has caused may lead to more Bangladeshi students pursuing education abroad. 

According to UNESCO data, over 50,000 Bangladeshi students studied abroad in 2023, international students believe the violent crackdown on the protests has given them more reasons look elsewhere for study opportunities. 

“The quota system, which reserves a significant portion of government jobs for specific groups, leaves fewer opportunities for those who rely solely on merit. This perceived unfairness drives students to seek environments where merit is the primary criterion for success,” Mahbub Alom Shuhag, a national-award-winning student leader from Coventry University, told The PIE. 

“Additionally, the recent protests and the government’s harsh response have created an atmosphere of instability and fear, making students and their families more inclined to look for safer and more stable opportunities overseas.”

According to Shuhag, more Bangladeshi students will look for educational opportunities in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany, in the aftermath of the protests. 

At least 205 Bangladeshi individuals have died since the protests first began on July 1, as per an AFP count of police and hospital data – contrary to government reports, which have put the number at 147. 

The student agitation was in response to a High Court decision to reinstate the quota system, overturning a 2018 move by the Sheikh Hasina-led government, which reserved 30% of jobs for families of freedom fighters who took part in the 1971 independence war against West Pakistan.

But things escalated when, during a press conference, Hasina questioned the protests’ legitimacy by referring to “Razakars”, a derogatory term associated with militias accused of committing atrocities against Bangladeshis. 

“If the grandchildren of freedom fighters do not receive (quota) benefits, who would get it? The grandchildren of Razakars?” Hasina was quoted as saying at the press conference. 

The protests took a violent turn after clashes between protesting students and the student wing of the ruling political party. 

Bangladesh’s security forces have also been accused of using tear gas, live ammunition, shotgun pellets, stun grenades, and other lethal force against the protesters. 

Mobile internet services resumed across Bangladesh, after 10 days of suspension, on Sunday. 

But slow internet speed and restrictions on social media platforms have led to concerns among Bangladeshi international students, who are trying to stay connected with their family members back home. 

“We have been actively following the news on quota protests in Bangladesh primarily through social media. We have also seen the international Bangladeshi diaspora engaging in discussions within the community to share their perceptions and express their concerns,” said Saddam Hossain, a student at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in China

“Currently, due to internet disruptions and the spread of misinformation, a fog of uncertainty has emerged, making it difficult to discern fact from fiction. The lack of reliable, real-time information leaves us feeling disconnected from the very events shaping our country.”

Although students have lauded the Supreme Court’s decision to bring down the proposed quotas to just 5%, they believe their actions don’t go far enough in addressing the government’s response to the protests. 

“The Supreme Court’s decision to reduce the quotas is a positive development, but the protests have expanded beyond student concerns to include the general public. People are questioning why such severe brutality and violence were used if the government was willing to make concessions on the quotas.

“The protests now reflect broader issues of fairness, transparency, and accountability,” said Mebin Rahman Fateha, a student at the University of Birmingham. 

The unrest is also leading to more queries among parents and students about educational opportunities abroad.

“Recent protests had a lot of parents being concerned and wanting to send their children outside because they are heavily focusing on the safety, education, and proper career of their kids first. We are already seeing even more inquiries from all kinds of people,” said Tasmiah Siddiqui, destination manager – USA and Canada, Edwise Consultancy Bd. 

“Everything is uncertain for careers and [the] future in education or further progress. Educational backlogs and lack of proper education are building up day by day, which is encouraging students to rethink about education and career and settle abroad.” 

Hasina, who won her fifth term back in January this year, is facing one of her biggest political tests amid increasing autocracy and unemployment in Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh’s youth unemployment rate is now sitting at 15.7%, according to recent estimates from the International Labour Organization.

Recent protests had a lot of parents being concerned and wanting to send their children outside [Bangladesh]

Tasmiah Siddiqui, Edwise Consultancy Bd.

The nationwide unrest has also led to a significant portion of Bangladesh’s international student population leaving the country. 

Over 6,700 Indian students, the majority of whom study medicine in Bangladesh, have returned to India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. 

While more than 3,000 Indian students crossed the India-Bangladesh border to reach the Northeast Indian state of Tripura, 1,168 Nepali, 66 Bhutanese students, 2 Maldivian students, and a Canadian student also crossed the checkpoint. 

Although the situation has remained relatively calm since the apex court’s ruling, a prominent Bangladeshi student group ‘Students Against Discrimination’ has vowed to resume the protests if their leaders are not released from custody on Sunday.