Job Quotas Slashed by Bangladesh Court After Fatal Protest Violence

Post by: Kanchan Chandel

Photo: AFP

Bangladesh Supreme Court Abolishes Most Job Quotas Following Deadly Protests

New Delhi, July 21: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has drastically reduced job quotas in government positions, a decision that has led to violent clashes across the country, resulting in over 100 fatalities.

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Previously, a significant portion of public sector jobs—one-third—was reserved for the relatives of veterans from the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling now stipulates that only 5 percent of these roles can be allocated to veterans’ family members.

The government has yet to issue a formal response to this ruling. A representative from Students Against Discrimination, speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP), expressed cautious support for the decision but emphasized that protests would persist until the government enforces an order reflecting their demands.

In Dhaka, a curfew has been in place for a second day, resulting in largely empty streets. Despite the curfew, sporadic clashes continue in some areas. Reuters reports that an armored vehicle has been stationed outside the Supreme Court, with soldiers patrolling the capital city. Several protest leaders have been arrested, and calls for justice for those who died in the clashes are growing louder.

The Supreme Court's decision establishes that 93 percent of public sector jobs should be merit-based, with 5 percent reserved for veterans’ relatives and 2 percent allocated to ethnic minorities or individuals with disabilities. This quota system, initially removed in 2018 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, was reinstated by a lower court last month, prompting widespread protests.

The government’s response has included a severe crackdown, a curfew, and a communications blackout. Despite Bangladesh’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, this economic growth has not translated into adequate job opportunities for university graduates. Estimates indicate that approximately 18 million young Bangladeshis are searching for employment, with university graduates facing higher unemployment rates compared to those with less formal education.

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