Bangladesh Supreme Court Scraps Most Job Quotas After Violent Protests: Report (image-X/bengalielonmusk)
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs that triggered widespread student-led protests across the country. The violent clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 114 people, as per local media.
The top court’s Appellate Division dismissed a lower court order that reinstated the quotas, directing that 93 percent of government jobs will be open to candidates based on merit, as per reports.
Read Also: What Is The Controversial New Quota System In Bangladesh?
The court stated that a lower bench’s June order to reintroduce the scheme was “illegal.” After issuing its verdict, the court also told the students to “return to class,” as per AFP.
The court ruled that 93 percent of positions would be based on merit. The ruling curtailed the number of reserved jobs from 56 percent of all positions to seven percent. However, it reserved five percent of all government jobs for the children of freedom fighters from the 1971 war, down from the previous 30 percent.
One percent has been reserved for tribal communities, and another one percent for people with disabilities or those identifying as third genders under the country’s law.
While the top court was due to examine the legality of the reintroduced scheme, it gave its verdict as the situation worsened in the country.
Dhaka, the epicentre of the protests, has been witnessing violent clashes for two weeks. The anti-quota protests turned bloody after groups associated with the ruling party attacked the students in the capital city, as per Al Jazeera.
On June 5, the High Court ordered the reinstatement of the 30 percent quota for government jobs reserved for the relatives of war heroes who fought for the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Students from both government and private universities across the country are demanding reforms in the job quota system, where more than half of the jobs are already reserved. While the protestors seek to abolish the quota for children of freedom fighters, they support reserving jobs for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Government jobs are highly coveted and paid in Bangladesh.
The students complained that the system unfairly benefits the families of pro-government groups supporting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party, the National Awami League, which led the Bangladesh liberation struggle.
Until 2018, nearly 56% of government jobs were reserved for various categories. Only 44 percent of all openings were available for open admission. Additionally, there were special examinations for quota candidates, and many vacancies remained in quota seats even though the eligible candidates on the merit list were unemployed.
Meanwhile, the country has been experiencing an internet shutdown since Thursday.
