bangladesh-sc-waters-down-job-quota-that-triggered-violence

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has scaled back a controversial job quota system after nationwide unrest over the past week during which more than 100 people were killed, according to media reports.

Students have been demanding an end to a controversial quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for descendants of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. They say the quota favours allies of the governing Awami League party, which led the independence movement against Pakistan.

The Supreme Court ordered that the quota for veterans’ descendants be cut to 5 per cent, with 93 per cent of jobs to be allocated on merit. The remaining 2 per cent will be set aside for members of ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people.

Sunday’s verdict comes after weeks of demonstrations — mostly led by students —that turned deadly on Tuesday after groups linked to the Awami League attacked protesters. Campaigners have accused the police of using “unlawful force” against protesters.

Student groups responsible for organising the protests have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision but decided to press on with demonstrations until their key demands are met, including the release of those jailed and resignations of the officials responsible for the violence.

Earlier, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina imposed a curfew, called in the army and gave shoot-at-sight orders to quell the biggest protests since her re-election to a fourth successive term this year.

Since last week, universities have remained shut and Bangladesh has been cut off from the outside world due to a communications blockade. Violence continued to escalate as police used tear gas, fired rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to scatter stone-throwing protesters.

Hasina’s previous government scrapped the quota system in 2018, but the High Court reinstated it last month, sparking a new round of protests and an ensuing government crackdown.

Hasina defended the quota system, saying veterans deserved the highest respect for their contributions in the war against Pakistan, regardless of their political affiliation.

The attempt by the governing party officials and ministers to paint the demonstrators as “anti-national” further angered the protesters.