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Supreme Court of Bangladesh Reduces Job Quotas for War Veterans’ Descendants Amid Student Protests
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has reduced job quotas for the descendants of war veterans, sparking significant student protests. This decision raises questions about equity and the legacy of wartime sacrifices in contemporary employment policies.
Supreme Court of Bangladesh Reduces Job Quotas for War Veterans’ Descendants
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh delivered a landmark ruling on Sunday that significantly reduces the number of government jobs reserved for war veterans and their descendants. This decision comes amidst a backdrop of intense student protests that have led to the tragic loss of over 100 lives and brought the nation to a near standstill.
According to Shah Monjurul Hoque, a lawyer representing student groups, the court has now mandated that only 5 percent of government jobs will be reserved for the children and grandchildren of those who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971. This is a substantial decrease from the previous 30 percent quota.
In addition to this reduction, the ruling also addresses quotas for other demographics. It abolishes reservations for women and individuals from specific districts, while also reducing the quota for ethnic minorities to 1 percent, down from 5 percent. However, the 1 percent quota for persons with disabilities remains intact. Overall, the Supreme Court’s decision slashes the total number of reserved jobs from 56 percent to 7 percent, thereby opening up a significant number of civil service positions to university graduates who have been advocating for a merit-based hiring system.
The protests, which have been ongoing since July 1, were sparked by the reinstatement of the quota system, which had previously been abolished in 2018 only to be reintroduced this year. The student demonstrations escalated into violence when members of the Awami League’s student wing, the political party led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, began attacking the protesters. In response to the unrest, the government deployed police and paramilitary forces to restore order, yet the students remained steadfast in their demands. The situation intensified further when the government imposed a curfew and called in the army to control the chaos.
The quota system was originally established by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, as a means to reward those who had fought for the country’s independence. Over the years, specifically in 1997 and later in 2010, the quotas were expanded to include the descendants of these “freedom fighters.” However, students have increasingly criticized this system as inequitable, advocating for a system in which government jobs are filled based on merit rather than lineage.
In June, the high court had reinstated the quotas after descendants of freedom fighters presented their case, but following the student protests, the Supreme Court temporarily paused this reinstatement pending further review. On Sunday, the court’s verdict was delivered, leading to a directive for students to return to their classrooms.
“As the demands of students are met, they should stop the protests,” stated Am Amin Uddin, Bangladesh’s attorney general, addressing reporters after the ruling.