In a landmark decision, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has overturned the controversial quotas on government jobs that had triggered violent protests. The quota system reserved 30% of coveted civil service positions for relatives of veterans from the country’s war of independence in 1971, leading to widespread backlash, particularly from students and young people facing high levels of unemployment.
The protests, which resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, saw demonstrators gathering in the streets and university campuses across the country. The civil service quota system had been scrapped in 2018 following similar protests, only to be reinstated by the High Court in June, sparking renewed outrage.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court ruled that 93% of government job positions will now be open to candidates based on merit, without any quotas. This decision has been hailed as a final solution to the long-standing issue of the quota system.
Following the announcement, lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque, representing students, emphasized the new breakdown of quotas: 93% for general people, 5% for freedom fighters and their kin, 1% for ethnic minorities, and 1% for the third gender and physically disabled.
The Attorney General of Bangladesh expressed hope that the ruling would bring about normalcy and urged the government to take strict action against those inciting violence. A curfew was extended in Dhaka to contain the unrest, with soldiers patrolling the streets and internet services largely disrupted within the country.
As tensions continue to simmer, the US State Department has raised its travel advisory level for Bangladesh, warning against travel due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism. The situation remains volatile, with the government under pressure to address the grievances of its citizens and maintain peace and stability in the country.
