Bangladesh youth uprising echoes the Arab Spring protestsBy M. Niaz AsadullahIn recent weeks, the Bangladeshi government has cracked down violently on students demanding equitable access to coveted government jobs amid an unemployment crisis. Bangladesh’s youth uprising, with its echoes of the Arab Spring, illustrates how corruption, cronyism and inequality tend to accompany GDP growth, especially under an increasingly authoritarian regime. However, Bangladesh’s High Court in June reinstated the controversial job quota system, sparking widespread protests. Despite being temporarily quelled, the youth protests could still expand into a wider anti-government movement. Bangladesh has a rich history of youth protests, which played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the country’s independence in 1971.

Source: Taipei Times July 29, 2024 17:26 UTC