Bangladesh Extends Curfew Amid Protests Over Civil Service Hiring Quota

Bangladesh Extends Nationwide Curfew Amid Protests Over Civil Service Hiring Quota

Bangladesh has announced an extension of its nationwide curfew as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on a contentious civil service hiring quota that has ignited violent protests across the country in recent days. In response to the escalating situation, universities have been closed, internet access has been suspended, and the government has mandated that citizens remain indoors. Under the new restrictions, individuals are permitted to leave their homes only between 3 PM and 5 PM for essential errands.

Additionally, the government has declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays, allowing only emergency services to operate during this period. The Supreme Court’s impending decision comes after a controversial quota system, which had previously reserved 30% of government jobs for the descendants of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, faced mounting scrutiny and backlash.

Initially halted in 2018 following widespread student protests, the quota system was reinstated by Bangladesh’s High Court in June, prompting a new wave of demonstrations. The Supreme Court has now ruled on an appeal, significantly reducing the veterans’ quota to 5%, while stipulating that 93% of government jobs should be allocated based on merit. The remaining 2% will be designated for ethnic minorities, as well as transgender and disabled individuals.

This ruling is seen as a partial victory for student protesters, following days of violent confrontations with police that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 100 people, according to national media sources. However, with the majority of communication channels offline, it remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court’s verdict has appeased the protesting students. There has also been no immediate response from the government regarding the situation.

The protests escalated dramatically on Tuesday, following clashes that broke out between students at Dhaka University and law enforcement. Tensions continued to rise as police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades to disperse crowds of stone-throwing demonstrators. In light of the violence, police have reportedly been given a ‘shoot-on-sight’ order in a bid to control the unrest.

These protests represent one of the most significant challenges to the Bangladeshi government since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth consecutive term in January’s elections, which were boycotted by major opposition parties. Critics of the quota system argue that it is inherently discriminatory and primarily benefits supporters of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party, which spearheaded the independence movement. They assert that a merit-based system should replace the current quota.

Despite the backlash, Hasina has staunchly defended the quota system, claiming that veterans deserve utmost respect for their sacrifices during the war against Pakistan, irrespective of their political affiliations. Meanwhile, protesters maintain that the quota disproportionately favors those aligned with the ruling party.

In a bid to find common ground, representatives from both the government and student protesters convened late Friday to discuss potential resolutions. Law Minister Anisul Huq indicated that the government is open to dialogue regarding the protesters’ demands, which include not only reforms to the quota system but also the reopening of university dormitories and the resignation of certain university officials for their failure to safeguard campuses.

The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has expressed its support for the protests and is committed to organizing its demonstrations, as many of its members have joined the student-led movements. However, the BNP has distanced itself from any violence, rejecting the ruling party’s claims that they are exploiting the protests for political leverage.