Bangladesh's top court scales back job quotas that sparked deadly unrest

Soldiers patrolled cities ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced that the stay-at-home order would be relaxed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday for essential errands.

Bangladesh's top court on Sunday scaled back a controversial quota system for government job applicants, marking a partial victory for student protesters after days of nationwide unrest and deadly clashes with police that have resulted in numerous casualties.

Frustrated by the lack of good job opportunities, students have been demanding an end to a quota that reserved 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh's 1971 independence war. The government abolished the quota in 2018 following mass protests, but the High Court reinstated it in June, sparking new demonstrations.

Ruling on an appeal, the Supreme Court ordered that the veterans' quota be reduced to 5 percent, with 93 percent of jobs allocated on merit. The remaining 2 percent will be reserved for ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities.

The protests have posed a significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government since she secured a fourth consecutive term in January elections, which were boycotted by main opposition groups. In response to the unrest, universities have been closed, the internet shut off, and a stay-at-home order issued.

Violence escalated on Tuesday, a day after students at Dhaka University clashed with police. Authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades to disperse stone-throwing protesters. While official casualty figures have not been released, the Daily Prothom Alo newspaper reported that at least 103 people have died so far.

Sporadic clashes continued in parts of Dhaka on Saturday, though it was unclear if there were any further fatalities. Soldiers patrolled cities ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced that the stay-at-home order would be relaxed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday for essential errands. The government also declared Sunday and Monday public holidays, with only emergency services operational.

Protesters argue that the quota system is discriminatory and benefits Hasina's supporters, calling for a merit-based system instead. Hasina defends the quota, asserting that veterans deserve high respect for their war contributions, regardless of political affiliation.

Representatives from both sides met on Friday to seek a resolution. Law Minister Anisul Huq stated that the government was open to discussing the protesters' demands, which included reforming the quota system, reopening student dormitories shut by police, and the resignation of university officials who failed to protect campuses from violence.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has backed the protests and plans to organise its demonstrations. However, the BNP denies responsibility for the violence and refutes the ruling party's accusations of exploiting the protests for political gains. The Awami League and BNP have a history of accusing each other of fueling political chaos, most recently during the national election, which saw a crackdown on several opposition figures. Hasina's government accused the opposition of attempting to disrupt the vote.

In light of the Supreme Court's decision, attorney-general AM Amin Uddin confirmed that the High Court's verdict was deemed illegal. He added that five percent of civil service jobs would remain reserved for children of independence war veterans and two percent for other categories. The top court also urged student protesters to return to class, as conveyed by Shah Monjurul Hoque, the lawyer representing two students in the case against the quota scheme.

With inputs from agencies