Bangladesh Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to reintroduce quota system in civil service jobs, following weeklong deadly violence that left nearly 200 killed, thousands injured, and state properties worth millions of dollars vandalized and gutted. The full bench of the Appellate Division said the government should reserve only a seven percent quota for public service jobs against the 56 percent quota policy previously. The next day, the ruling Awami League government issued a gazette to implement the court order.
The peaceful movement led by university students in the capital Dhaka and other major cities turned violent after police along with pro-government students attacked protesters last week. The attacks intensified the protests which later spread across the country. The government imposed a nationwide curfew, deployed the military, and cut off the internet for five days to restore law and order. Student activists welcomed the court verdict and urged the government to fulfill their demands including justice for the violence and killings.
Justice Bhuyan Calls for Protection of Dissent and Personal Liberty
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has expressed concern over the growing trend of treating peaceful dissent and ordinary actions as criminal offences. Speaking at a
