Bangladesh top court reverses jobs quota plan after street violence

Following deadly clashes between demonstrators and the government over a civil service quota system, Bangladesh’s top court on Sunday largely reversed a decision to reintroduce the plan, BBC Bangla reported.

Under the Supreme Court of Bangladesh’s ruling, 93% of all appointments are to be based on merit with immediate effect, with 5% going to descendants of soldiers who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 and 2% to people from ethnic minorities or with disabilities.

The original quota system reserved more than half of public sector jobs for such special groups. It was seen as favouring supporters of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League.

The higher quotas were scrapped in 2018, but reinstated by a lower court last month, the broadcaster said.

Unemployment and inflation are high in the country of more than 170 million inhabitants. Bangladeshi students are especially angered by the lack of good jobs.

According to Al Jazeera, student leaders have said they welcome the verdict but will not stop protests until all opposition leaders and students arrested are freed and government officials they hold responsible for the crackdown on protesters resign.

The government welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict, and Law Minister Anisul Haque told reporters it was a “very prudent judgment” and it will be implemented as soon as possible, BBC Bangla reported. The court has said that as the quotas are a policy matter the government can make changes if necessary later on.

Recent reports from the country’s media could not be called up online after the government imposed a curfew and communications blackout.

The curfew was continuing and Monday will be a holiday, with local media reports saying the death toll in the violent clashes since Tuesday was more than 110. There was no official confirmation. Internet and text message services remain suspended, cutting the nation off from the rest of the world.

BBC Bangla reported that at least 50 people had been killed on Friday alone. The curfew was to be eased for two hours on Sunday afternoon to allow people to get supplies.

The streets were quiet and soldiers are patrolling.

At a media briefing, Shah Manjurul Haque, the lawyer for the petitioners supporting the quota, said the court’s verdict was “historic” and everyone should accept it. Haque said the court expressed hope the protesting students would return to their classes and stop the agitation.

The Supreme Court has also requested everyone to cooperate in a probe headed by a judge into the latest violence.