International Desk, 21st July: In a landmark ruling, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has effectively abolished the majority of quotas for government jobs, following prolonged and violent protests that have claimed over 130 lives.
The Appellate Division overturned a previous lower court decision to reinstate the quota system, declaring that 93% of government positions will now be filled solely on merit. The ruling also urged student protesters to return to their classes.
The decision comes after extensive student-led demonstrations against the quota system, which reserved 30% of civil service positions for the families of those who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. These protests were sparked by a High Court verdict on June 5 that deemed the government’s 2018 cancellation of these quotas illegal.
The unrest intensified when a lower court reinstated the quotas last month, despite the government’s earlier decision to scrap them. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration had initially removed the quotas in 2018 in response to earlier protests.
In response to the recent escalation, authorities imposed stringent measures, including a curfew and deployment of military personnel in Dhaka. Internet and SMS services have been suspended since Thursday to prevent further organization of protests. The curfew was extended up to the Supreme Court hearing, with a brief two-hour reprieve for citizens to gather essential supplies.
As the nation grapples with the fallout from this decision, the continuation of these restrictions remains uncertain.
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