Bangladeshi court scales back jobs quota that triggered deadly unrest which killed scores

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs that have sparked student-led protests in which at least 114 people were killed.

The Supreme Court in its verdict ordered 93 per cent of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system, leaving the remaining 7 per cent for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 and other categories.

Earlier, the system reserved 30 per cent of such jobs for the relatives of war veterans.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government scrapped the quota system in 2018, but the lower court reinstated it last month after relatives of 1971 veterans filed petitions.

The reinstatement sparked the protests and an ensuing government crackdown.

Ahead of the court’s hearing, soldiers patrolled cities across the country while a nationwide curfew and an internet blackout remained in force.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the curfew would be relaxed from 3pm to 5pm on Sunday for people to run essential errands.

Meanwhile, Ms Hasina’s government has declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays, with only emergency services allowed to operate.

During the week, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to scatter stone-throwing protesters who filled the streets and university campuses.

Sporadic clashes in some parts of Dhaka, the capital, were reported on Saturday but it was not immediately clear whether there were any fatalities.

Protests reflect lack of job opportunities

The chaos highlights cracks in Bangladesh’s economy and the frustration of young people who lack good jobs upon graduation.

It also represents the biggest challenge to Ms Hasina since she won a fourth consecutive term in office after January’s elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition groups.

Protesters argue the quota system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Ms Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement, saying it should be replaced with a merit-based system.

Ms Hasina has defended the quota system, saying 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 on Friday in an attempt to reach a resolution and Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government was open to discussing their demands.

The demands included the reform of the current quota system, the reopening of student dormitories shut by the police following the clashes and for some university officials to step down after failing to protect campuses from the violence.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has backed the protests, vowing to organise its own demonstrations as many of its supporters have joined the student-led protests.

However, BNP said in a statement its followers were not responsible for the violence and denied the ruling party’s accusations of using the protests for political gains.

Reuters/AP