The majority of government employment quotas in Bangladesh were eliminated by the Supreme Court, sparking widespread student protests and the worst turmoil the nation has seen in ten years, which resulted in the deaths of over 114 people.
Since a lower court judgment reintroduced a contentious quota system that reserved up to 30% of government posts for the relatives of veterans who participated in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, the protests have been progressively escalating since last month.
In 2018, the Sheikh Hasina administration abolished the quota system; however, a court ruling has mandated its reinstatement.
The Supreme Court overturned that ruling on Sunday and mandated that 93% of government positions be filled on the basis of merit, without regard to quotas.
After meeting late on Friday to discuss a resolution, representatives from both sides made the breakthrough. Anisul Huq, the minister of law, has stated that the administration was willing to talk about their requests.
The administration issued instructions to “shoot on sight” in an attempt to put a stop to protests, extending a statewide curfew until 3 p.m. local time on Sunday. This led to the court’s decision.
Tanks and soldiers were stationed across the streets, while riot police used rubber bullets and tear gas to scatter protestors. The area appeared to be a war zone.
After the student branch of the ruling Awami League party started counterprotests earlier this week, the initially peaceful protests descended into violent altercations.
Intermittent fights were recorded in certain areas of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, despite the government’s more strict efforts to put an end to the disturbances. If there were any casualties, it remained unclear at first.
Although official numbers for the number of dead and injured have not yet been issued by Bangladesh’s government, sources in the local media on Saturday suggested that at least 114 people, largely students, had died.
Because of the suspension of mobile data and text message services that started on Thursday, the nation is still partially cut off from outside communication sources.
The administration announced that Sunday and Monday would be public holidays and that the curfew would only be loosened from 3 to 5 p.m. to allow citizens to do necessary errands.
The issue has emerged as the largest test of Ms. Hasina’s leadership to date. She extended her 15-year term as prime minister with an election in January that the major opposition parties in the nation boycotted because they believed the government was waging an unrelenting and widespread assault on dissent.
The country’s youth’s dissatisfaction with rising unemployment and the gaps in Bangladesh’s economy and government have come to light as a result of the protests.
The quota system, according to protestors, was biased in favor of Ms. Hasina’s political party, which spearheaded the independence struggle. They insisted that a merit-based system be put in its place.
The government has previously defended quotas, arguing that veterans and their families ought to get compensation for the sacrifices they made during the conflict with Pakistan.
