Student groups to continue protests in Bangladesh despite SC verdict to scale back controversial quota system

Student protesters in Bangladesh have said they will continue with the protests even after the country's Supreme Court gave a verdict to scale back the controversial quota system, as they want a complete end to the job quota rule.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on July 21 scaled back the quota system for government jobs from 56% of all positions to 7%, after the nationwide unrest and the deaths of scores of people.

The top court ordered 93% of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system. Attorney-general A M Amin Uddin said that 5% of civil service jobs would remain reserved for children of independence war veterans and 2% would be set aside for members of ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people.

The SC verdict came after weeks of demonstrations, mostly led by students, that turned deadly after groups linked to the ruling Awami League attacked protesters. The police have been accused of using “unlawful force” against protesters.

Although student groups responsible for organizing the protests have welcomed the SC's decision, they will continue the demonstrations until their key demands are met, including the release of those jailed and the resignations of the officials responsible for the violence.

Bangladesh witnessed deadly clashes between protesters and security personnel over the past week during which 136 people were killed.

The protests that began last month escalated on July 14 after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina endorsed the job quota for veterans saying “If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?”

The statement led to an outrage among youngsters who demanded an end to the quota system, which reserved 30% of government jobs for relatives of 1971 war veterans who fought for independence against Pakistan.

Earlier, the Sheikh Hasina-led government imposed a curfew and deployed an army. The government also gave shoot-at-sight orders to quell the biggest protests since her re-election to a fourth consecutive term this year.

Universities and schools have remained shut since last week and the country has been cut off from the outside world due to an internet blackout and communications blockade.

Violence further escalated as police used tear gas, fired rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to disperse stone-throwing protesters.

Meanwhile, over 4,500 Indian students returned from Bangladesh amid the violence, the Ministry of External Affairs said on July 21.

The Indian High Commission also facilitated 500 Nepali students, 38 Bhutanese students, and one Maldivian student to get a safe passage to India, the MEA said in a statement.