New Delhi: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday scaled back the government jobs quota that triggered deadly unrest across the country which has claimed over 110 lives so far.
The Supreme Court in its verdict ordered 93% of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system, leaving the remaining 7% for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 and other categories. Earlier, the system reserved 30% of such jobs the relatives of war veterans.
SC verdict comes after weeks of demonstrations – mostly led by students – that turned fatal on Tuesday after demonstrators began clashing with police. During the week, police resorted to firing tear gas and rubber bullets and hurling smoke grenades to disperse stone-pelting protesters who took the streets and university campuses.
Sporadic clashes in some parts of Dhaka were also reported on Saturday but it was not immediately clear whether there were any fatalities.
2-Hour Curfew Relaxation
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has announced a 2-hour relaxation from curfew which has been clamped across the country since Friday to quell the growing protests.
The Sheikh Hasina government have declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays in the wake of the violence. Moreover, police in the violence-hit country has been ordered to “shoot-on-sight” to put an end to the viloent clashes between police and protesters. Only emergency services will be allowed permitted in the country and Sunday, Monday have been declared public holidays.
Why Are Students Protesting in Bangladesh?
The protests are led by the students in the country and is related to the civil service job quotas in Bangladesh.
There are a large number of students who have been demanding an end to the quota system which offers over half of civil service posts for certain groups and communities. About 30 percent of the seats have been reserved for those whose who are relatives of the veterans of the Bangladesh War with Pakistan in 1971.
Students believe that this reservation is discriminatory in nature and particularly favours the supporters of the current ruling party.
Therefore, they are demanding recruitment on the basis of merit as these jobs provide high job security and better pay.
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