DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court is set to rule on Sunday regarding contentious civil service hiring quotas that have ignited nationwide protests and clashes, resulting in 133 deaths.
The protests, which began against politically influenced admission quotas for government jobs, have escalated into one of the most severe periods of unrest during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
Following the failure of riot police to restore order, soldiers have been deployed across major cities. Additionally, a nationwide internet blackout since Thursday has limited the flow of information. The Supreme Court’s decision on the future of these job quotas is highly anticipated.
Prime Minister Hasina hinted earlier this week that the quota system might be abolished. However, the increasing crackdown and rising death toll suggest that even a favorable verdict may not quell public outrage. Protesters are now demanding the resignation of the government, viewing the issue as beyond just student rights.
The controversial quota system reserves over half of civil service positions for specific groups, including children of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war against Pakistan. Critics argue that this benefits families loyal to Hasina, who has been in power since 2009 and secured her fourth consecutive term in January, in an election criticized for lack of genuine opposition.
Rights groups accuse Hasina’s government of using state institutions to entrench its power and suppress dissent, including through extrajudicial killings of opposition activists. The quota system exacerbates frustrations among young graduates facing severe employment challenges in a country struggling to provide jobs for its 170 million people.
Hasina further inflamed tensions by comparing protesters to Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistan during the independence war. “Rather than try to address the protesters’ grievances, the government’s actions have made the situation worse,” said Pierre Prakash, Asia director at Crisis Group.
Hasina canceled a planned diplomatic tour to Spain and Brazil due to the escalating violence. Since Tuesday, at least 133 people, including police officers, have been killed in clashes across the country, according to an AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals.
The US State Department has warned Americans against traveling to Bangladesh and announced the evacuation of some diplomats and their families due to the civil unrest. The Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling is expected to significantly impact the political landscape in Bangladesh.
