Bangladesh’s top court on Sunday scaled back a controversial quota system for government job applicants after it led to nationwide unrest and deadly clashes between police and protesters, resulting in numerous fatalities.
The Supreme Court’s verdict ordered 93% of government jobs to be allocated based on merit, leaving the remaining 7% for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 and other categories. Previously, 30% of such jobs were reserved for relatives of war veterans.
The verdict follows weeks of demonstrations, mainly led by students, which turned deadly last Tuesday as protesters clashed with police. Throughout the week, police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades to disperse stone-throwing protesters who filled the streets and university campuses. Sporadic clashes were reported in parts of Dhaka on Saturday, though it was not immediately clear if there were further fatalities.
Bangladeshi authorities have not released official numbers of those killed and injured, but the Daily Prothom Alo newspaper reported on Saturday that at least 103 people have died so far.
Ahead of the court hearing, soldiers patrolled cities across the country, while a nationwide curfew and an internet blackout remained in force. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced that the curfew would be relaxed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday for people to run essential errands.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays, with only emergency services allowed to operate.
The unrest highlights significant issues in Bangladesh’s governance and economy and the frustration of young people who lack good jobs after graduation. It also represents the biggest challenge to Hasina since she won a fourth consecutive term in office following January’s elections, which were boycotted by main opposition groups.
Protesters argue that the quota system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement, and advocate for a merit-based system. Hasina has defended the quota system, stating that veterans deserve the highest respect for their contributions in the war against Pakistan, regardless of their political affiliation.
Representatives from both sides met late Friday in an attempt to reach a resolution. Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government was open to discussing their demands, which include reforming the current quota system, reopening student dormitories shut by police after the clashes, and having some university officials step down for failing to protect campuses from violence.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has backed the protests, vowing to organize its own demonstrations as many of its supporters have joined the student-led protests. However, BNP denied responsibility for the violence and the ruling party’s accusations of using the protests for political gains.
The Awami League and the BNP have frequently accused each other of fueling political chaos and violence, most recently ahead of the national election, which was marred by a crackdown on several opposition figures. Hasina’s government had accused the opposition party of attempting to disrupt the vote.
In 2018, the government halted the job quotas following mass student protests. But in June, Bangladesh’s High Court nullified that decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of 1971 veterans filed petitions. The Supreme Court suspended the ruling, pending an appeal hearing.
Hasina has called on protesters to wait for the court’s verdict.
Source: AP
