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 groups, a move seen as favouring supporters 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.
More than 100 people have been killed in the violence that broke out on Tuesday, BBC Bangla reported, citing newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Recent media reports in the country could not be accessed online after the government imposed a curfew and communications blockades.
The broadcaster 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 so people could get supplies.
In the country with more than 170 million inhabitants, unemployment and inflation are high.
