Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has reduced the contentious civil service job quotas that led to violent protests and the deaths of 151 people. However, the court stopped short of abolishing the quotas entirely, as many demonstrators had demanded.
Protests initially began over the politicized admission quotas for government jobs, escalating into severe unrest against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Soldiers have been deployed across cities, and a nationwide internet blackout since Thursday has severely restricted information flow.
Originally, the Supreme Court was scheduled to rule on the legality of the reintroduced quota scheme next month. However, due to intensifying civil strife, the verdict was expedited. The court declared a lower bench’s order to reintroduce the scheme as “illegal.”
The new ruling reduces reserved jobs from 56% to 7%. Specifically, it allocates 5% for children of “freedom fighters” from the 1971 liberation war, 1% for tribal communities, and 1% for people with disabilities or identifying as third gender. The remaining 93% of positions will be awarded based on merit.
The “freedom fighter” quota has been particularly contentious, with critics alleging it is used to favor loyalists of Hasina’s ruling Awami League. Protesters demanded the complete abolition of this category, along with other quotas for women and specific districts.
Government Response and Ongoing Protests
Prime Minister Hasina hinted earlier that the court would issue a ruling favorable to student demands. Despite the court’s decision, public anger remains high, with many calling for the government’s resignation.
Hasina has faced accusations of bending the judiciary to her will, using state institutions to consolidate power, and suppressing dissent. Rights groups have criticized her government for extrajudicial killings of opposition activists.
Impact and Continued Unrest
With an estimated 18 million young people in Bangladesh unemployed, the quota system’s reintroduction has exacerbated job crisis frustrations. Hasina’s comparison of protesters to collaborators with Pakistan during the independence war further inflamed tensions.
Since the protests began, at least 151 people, including several police officers, have been killed in clashes. The government has imposed a curfew and arrested several opposition members and protest organizers.
The US State Department has advised against travel to Bangladesh and plans to evacuate some diplomats and their families due to the unrest.
