Bangladesh’s government is poised to officially accept a court ruling on Tuesday, July 23, which mandates a reduction in state job quotas, addressing a key demand from student demonstrators who have protested persistently.
Following violent protests last week that resulted in nearly 150 fatalities, the government instituted a curfew alongside an Internet and telecoms blackout. Nevertheless, calm has returned to Dhaka and several major cities in Bangladesh for the second consecutive day.
Demonstrators are calling for the government to re-evaluate a high court decision last month that reinstated a quota system, reserving approximately 60% of government positions for certain groups, including relatives of individuals involved in Bangladesh’s independence movement.
This quota system had been abolished by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration in 2018.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate most of the quotas on Sunday, Hasina agreed to the ruling late Monday, aligning with one of the protesters’ demands.
Government sources indicate that the official recording of the court ruling is expected on Tuesday, confirming to the demonstrators that their concerns are being acknowledged.
On Monday, Hasina remarked that the curfew, which has been in effect since Friday, would be lifted “once the situation improves,” and accused political opponents of inciting the unrest.
Protesters have given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to meet eight demands, including a public apology from Hasina and the reopening of university campuses that were closed due to the violence.
In light of the unrest, Malaysia has initiated efforts to evacuate its citizens from Bangladesh, with a flight scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon. Moreover, India has reported that at least 4,500 Indian students have returned home in the past few days amidst the turmoil.
