After deadly clashes between protesters and the government over a quota system for civil servants, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday largely reversed a decision to reintroduce the scheme, BBC Bangla reported.
According to the Bangladesh Supreme Court ruling, 93% of all appointments must be based on merit with immediate effect. Five percent will go to descendants of soldiers who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, and two percent to people from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities.
The original quota system reserved more than half of public sector jobs for such special groups. It was seen as favoring proponents of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League.
The higher quotas were abolished in 2018, but reinstated last month by a lower court, the broadcaster said.
Unemployment and inflation are high in the country of more than 170 million people, and Bangladeshi students are particularly angry about the lack of good jobs.
According to Al Jazeera, student leaders said they welcomed the ruling but would not end the protests until all arrested opposition leaders and students are released and government officials they hold responsible for the crackdown on protesters step down.
The government welcomed the Supreme Court verdict, with Law Minister Anisul Haque telling reporters that it was a “very prudent judgment” and that it would be implemented as soon as possible, BBC Bangla reported. The court said that since the quotas are a policy matter, the government can make changes later if necessary.
Recent reports from the country’s media could not be accessed online after the government imposed a curfew and shut down communications.
The curfew remained in place and Monday is a public holiday, with local media reporting that the death toll in the violent clashes since Tuesday had exceeded 110. There was no official confirmation. Internet and text messaging services remain suspended, cutting the country off from the rest of the world.
BBC Bangla reported that at least 50 people had been killed on Friday alone. The curfew was due to be relaxed for two hours on Sunday afternoon to allow people to get supplies.
The streets are quiet and there are soldiers patrolling.
At a press conference, Shah Manjurul Haque, the lawyer for the petitioners supporting the quota, said the court’s verdict was “historic” and everyone should accept it. Haque said the court hoped that the protesting students would return to their classes and end the agitation.
The Supreme Court has also called on everyone to cooperate with a judge-led investigation into the latest violence.
