Bangladesh Supreme Court Scales Back Civil Service Quotas Amid Violent Protests

Key Points:

1. Supreme Court Decision: 93% of civil service jobs in Bangladesh will be based on merit, with 7% reserved for 1971 war veterans’ relatives and other categories.
2. Violent Protests: Student-led protests against the quota system resulted in 133 deaths and widespread unrest.
3. Curfew and Security: Authorities extended a nationwide curfew and issued “shoot-on-sight” orders to control the violence.
4. Educational Impact: The government shut down all educational institutions indefinitely, affecting many students, including nearly 1,000 returning to India.
5. Government Response: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina imposed a communications blackout and compared protesters to wartime collaborators, facing growing opposition.

Dhaka, July 21: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday scaled back the civil service quota system following weeks of violent protests by students. However, the reservation policy was not entirely scrapped. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin announced that the Supreme Court had deemed the High Court’s order reinstating the quotas as “illegal.” The top court ruled that 93% of government jobs would now be allocated based on merit, with 7% reserved for relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war and other designated categories.

In response to the unrest, authorities have extended a nationwide curfew and granted police “shoot-on-sight” orders to control the violence, which has led to at least 133 deaths. Under the revised quota system, 5% of civil service positions will be reserved for children of 1971 war veterans, with an additional 2% allocated for other categories. The High Court had reinstated a 30% quota last month after petitions from veterans’ relatives, triggering the latest wave of protests.

The protests, which began on university campuses, have now spread nationwide, leading to violent clashes between police and protesters and resulting in numerous deaths, including those of several police officers. In response, the government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has indefinitely shut down all public and private educational institutions, disrupting the lives of many students, including nearly 1,000 Indians who have returned home.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has offered to provide shelter to distressed individuals from Bangladesh, despite it being a matter for the Indian central government. Meanwhile, the US State Department has advised Americans against traveling to Bangladesh and is removing some diplomats and their families due to the civil unrest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further inflamed tensions by comparing the protesters to collaborators with Pakistan during the 1971 war. Her government has imposed a communications blackout, blocking internet and social media access since Thursday night.

The protests have evolved from specific grievances about job quotas to a broader movement against Hasina’s government, marking some of the worst violence the country has seen in over a decade.

Top Developments in Bangladesh Student Protest:

1. The Supreme Court reduced civil service quotas but did not eliminate them entirely.
2. 93% of government jobs will now be allocated based on merit.
3. 7% of jobs will be reserved for relatives of 1971 war veterans and other designated categories.
4. Authorities have extended a nationwide curfew and issued “shoot-on-sight” orders.
5. The unrest has resulted in at least 133 deaths.
6. The High Court had previously reinstated a 30% quota, sparking protests.
7. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has shut down all educational institutions indefinitely.
8. Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned home due to the unrest.
9. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has offered shelter to distressed Bangladeshis.
10. The US State Department has issued a travel advisory and is evacuating some diplomats due to the violence.