Bangladesh Supreme Court quashes controversial job reservation order amid protests

DHAKA: After days of protests, the Bangladesh Supreme Court quashed the controversial job reservation order. The intervention comes in the wake of student protests that have erupted and killed 133 people.

The Supreme Court quashed the High Court's order to restore 30 percent reservation in government jobs to the family members of those who participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. It was also clarified that they can get five percent reservation instead.93% recruitment in government jobs should be based on merit. The court also ruled that two percent reservation is for backward and differently-abled persons.

At the same time, the protestors demand that the reservation for the family members of those who participated in the liberation war should be completely cancelled. The protest may continue with demands such as the release of those arrested and the dismissal of the officers who committed the violence.

Protests have erupted in Bangladesh since Monday. The protests that started in the campuses resulted in clashes with the police in the streets and arson. Government institutions and vehicles were vandalized. But the police said that it was the opposition parties who took advantage of the strike and unleashed violence and action will be taken against them.

Internet and text message services have not resumed in the country. The curfew, which was announced at midnight on Friday, will remain in place until further notice. The government has stated that today will be a public holiday and only essential forces will work. There was no major violence as there were army patrols. Following the Supreme Court verdict, the army said that the nearby areas were calm.

In 1972, the system of reservation in government jobs was introduced in Bangladesh. According to the 2012 estimate, 56 per cent was reserved for the family members of liberation war participants (30%), women (10%), backward class (10%), tribal category (5%) and differently abled (1%). 44 percent on merit basis. From the beginning, 30 percent reservation was reserved for the family members of those who took part in the liberation war. In 2010, grandchildren were also included under reservation. As unemployment worsened, there was a protest showing that this was unnecessary. In 2018, the Sheikh Hasina government ordered the end of all reservations as the movement moved towards agitation. But on June 5, the High Court overturned the government's decision.