On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court eliminated most of the job quotas that had ignited student-led protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 114 people. The court overturned a lower court’s decision that had reinstated the quotas, ruling that 93% of government jobs should be filled based on merit without quotas.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government had abolished the quota system in 2018, but the lower court’s reinstatement last month triggered widespread protests and a subsequent government crackdown. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the area around the court was quiet, with the army deployed in Dhaka, including a tank stationed outside the court.
Read more: Bangladesh Army Enforces ‘Shoot-On-Sight’ Curfew After Protests
Earlier in the day, there were reports of sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces. A curfew imposed by the government was extended, with soldiers patrolling Dhaka. Internet and text services have been suspended since Thursday as authorities enforced a ban on public gatherings. The court also directed a reduction in job quotas for independence war veterans’ families to 5% from 30%, with 2% reserved for backward groups and the disabled.
