The resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her unseemly departure from Dhaka amid violent protests marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history. This upheaval is not merely a reaction to job quotas but a reflection of deeper, systemic issues within the country. The initial spark for the protests was the reimplementation of a job quota system that many young Bangladeshis viewed as inherently unfair. These quotas, which reserved a significant portion of government jobs for descendants of war veterans, were seen as an obstacle to equal opportunity in an already tight job market.

The students’ frustration quickly morphed into a broader movement against an administration perceived as increasingly autocratic and unresponsive. Economic stagnation has played a significant role in fuelling these protests. Bangladesh, like many other nations, has been hit hard by global economic downturns, exacerbated by conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war. High inflation and rising unemployment have made stable government jobs highly coveted, intensifying........

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