The Unraveling Quota Crisis in Bangladesh: A Deep-Seated Tangle of History and Protest

In the heart of Bangladesh, a nation once forged through struggle and sacrifice, a new wave of conflict is gripping the streets. The government has declared a nationwide curfew, enlisting the Army to quell protests that have left at least 67 people dead. At the core of this turmoil lies a demand for reform of a quota system that reserves many public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans from the country's war of independence. The UN has decried the violence against protesters as shocking and unacceptable, and amidst the chaos, approximately 300 Bangladeshi police officers have been injured.