The term ‘Razakar’ incited unprecedented violence during the quota protests due to its historical connotations of betrayal and atrocities committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

The quota protests in Bangladesh have escalated dramatically. Soldiers are patrolling the cities non-stop to suppress the escalating civil unrest triggered by student demonstrations, and riot police have opened fire on protesters who have defied the government-imposed curfew. The violence this week has resulted in at least 133 fatalities, presenting a significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime, which has been in power for 15 years.

The demonstrations started weeks ago to protest a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. The protests turned violent earlier this week on Tuesday when thousands of anti-quota protesters across the country clashed with members of the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, killing several students. Prior to the killings, Hasina on July 14 labelled those opposing the quota as “razakar” – a term used for those who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war.

The students, already upset with the Hasina administration, grew even more furious after the Prime Minister’s use of the term ‘Razakar’ in her July 14 speech. They are now openly calling Hasina a ‘dictator’ in response to the government’s harsh suppression of the protesters. Protestors are saying they’d much prefer ‘Razakars’ over a dictator like her. In protest, they came up with several different slogans to deride Hasina’s statement. While one was: “Tui ke? Ami ke? Razakar, Razakar!” (“Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar!”), another was: “Chaite gelam odhikar, hoye gelam Razakar.” (“I went to ask for rights; instead became a Razakar”), according to a report by Reuters.

The Significance of the Word ‘Razakar’ in Bangladesh

The term ‘Razakar’ is considered derogatory in Bangladesh, where people associate it with atrocities committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. Before the 1971 Liberation War, the Pakistan Armed Forces, in what was then East Pakistan, created three main militias to suppress civil disobedience and target freedom fighters. They were called the Razakars, the al-Badr and the al-Shams, according to a report by Indian Express.

Militia groups, backed by the Pakistan Armed Forces, committed genocidal rape, torture, murder, and forced deportation against Bengalis. According to a BBC Bangla report, the term refers to Bangladeshis who supported the Pakistani government, which was overthrown by the Muktijoddhas under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina’s father, after the 1971 Liberation War that resulted in the nation’s independence.

Now, when someone is called Razakar in Bangladesh, the person is often considered equivalent to being a traitor.

What Hasina Said?

During a press conference on July 14, when Hasina was asked about the student protests, she said, “If the grandchildren of freedom fighters do not receive (quota) benefits, who would get it? The grandchildren of Razakars?”

Talking to Indian Express, an Awami League supporter said Hasina’s remark was a sarcastic, rhetorical question, asking whether the grandchildren of Razakars should get quota benefits when it comes to jobs in Bangladesh.

But the remark further triggered anger among students, escalating an already tense situation. Protesters claim that Hasina is labelling them as Razakars to curb dissent.

Current Situation

The United States has advised its citizens against traveling to Bangladesh and has permitted the voluntary departure of non-emergency government employees and their families due to the current civil unrest. This announcement follows closely on the heels of a new travel advisory issued by the US, which cautions Americans to reconsider travel plans to the conflict-ridden nation.

Authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a strict curfew across the country and military personnel patrolled parts of the capital to quell further violence after days of clashes over the allocation of government jobs left more than 40 people dead and hundreds injured.

The Government of Bangladesh has declared a curfew throughout Bangladesh, ordering everyone to stay indoors. The Bangladeshi Army has been deployed throughout the country to reinforce the police. Telecommunications have been interrupted in Dhaka and across the country.