Footage shows Bangladesh PM scrapping job quotas in 2018, not in 2024

"News just in, all quotas are cancelled," read Bengali text overlaid on a Facebook video shared more than 17,000 times since it was posted on July 17.

The footage shows Hasina telling parliament: "Quotas will not exist, there is no need for any quotas. No need for quotas, all recruitment will be based on merit and the BCS exam." 

BCS refers to the Bangladesh Civil Service examination -- a test used to evaluate candidates for government jobs.

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Screenshot of the false post

The video emerged as protests in July against the quota system -- which reserves a number of government jobs for certain groups -- descended into some of the worst unrest during Hasina's tenure.

The clashes were sparked by a Dhaka High Court decision in June to reinstate the quota system abolished in 2018. 

At least 206 people died in the violence -- including several police officers, according to an AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals.

The Supreme Court drastically cut the number of reserved jobs after the unrest but fell short of protesters' demands to scrap the most contentious aspects of the system.

The video has also been posted with similar claims on Facebook and TikTok.  

Some users appeared to believe the video was recent.

"This is good, cancel the quotas for girls too! Recruit based on merit! Thank you dear leader!" one user wrote.

"Thanks to Honourable Prime Minister People's Leader Sheikh Hasina," another said. 

But the footage in fact showed Hasina announcing she would abolish the system in 2018. 

Old speech

A reverse image search of the video found a longer version posted on YouTube by local broadcaster Jamuna Television on April 11, 2018 (archived link).  

At around the 9:04 mark of the clip uploaded by Jamuna Television, Hasina could be heard giving the same speech as in the video falsely shared online. 

Below is a screenshot comparison of the video shared in the false post (left) and the footage from Jamuna Television (right):  

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Screenshot comparison of the video shared in the false post (left) and the footage from Jamuna Television (right)

Similar footage was also published on the verified YouTube account of Bangladeshi cable television channel ETV on April 12, 2018 (archived link). 

AFP reported at the time Hasina told parliament on April 11 that the quota system would be abolished.

Her announcement in 2018 came after rallies and sit-ins attended by tens of thousands of students demanding the government to scrap the quota system.

She also criticised protesting students for "misusing" the Internet to spread rumours and for blocking roads and highways. 

AFP has previously debunked claims about the student protests here.