The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has scaled back its policy over how government jobs are allocated following days of deadly protests.
Violent clashes between students and the police and paramilitaries in most major cities in the country have led to the deaths of over 130 people.
Thousands have been injured – with some of those in a critical condition.
Protesters had been demanding the end of a quota system that reserves 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.
Students taking part in the demonstration claimed the policy was discriminatory and argued the system favoured allies of the country’s ruling party, which led the independence movement. The government dismissed the allegation.
Ruling on an appeal on Sunday, the Supreme Court ordered the veterans’ quota be cut to 5%, with 93% of government jobs now to be allocated on merit.
The remaining 2% will be set aside for members of ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people.
It is hoped that by scaling back the reservation policy, some sort of peace and normality will return to the country after nearly a week of national unrest.
The government was forced to bring in the military in an effort to curb the protests. Soldiers and armoured vehicles patrolled the streets, while helicopters kept a watch from the skies.
Even as soldiers laid down barbed wire and gave warnings, protesters could be seen gathering in defiance, unwilling to back down.
A nationwide curfew was also enforced as the government restricted the movement of people and issued a “shoot-on-sight” policy, giving security forces the authority to fire on protesters in extreme cases.
Riad, who had three brothers killed in the unrest, said he took another of his brothers to hospital after he was shot in the head by security forces.
Speaking from the hospital, he said: “They are firing openly… There are blood stains on my hands. Why are my hands coloured with blood of my brothers?”
A woman at the hospital added: “Why are there so many dead bodies? Oh, Allah forgive me. What country we live in? Oh Allah, which country are we living in?”
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Almost a fifth of the population in Bangladesh is unemployed and the coveted government jobs are in high demand.
Hasnat Abdullah, the coordinator of a student movement involved in the protests, said: “There is no scope of retreat unless it involves the stopping of harassment.
“Look, there are many martyrs. Many were killed. People are being killed like birds. People are killed after torture. They are killed with sponsorship by the government as they took part in our quota reform movement. So the state should take the responsibility.”
The protests have so far been the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s rule since she won her fourth term this year – in an election that was boycotted by the opposition.
In an address to the nation on Thursday, the prime minster appealed for peace, passed on her condolences over the deaths of students and promised a judicial inquiry.
But the reconciliatory statements from the highest office were unmatched by the brutality on the ground where security forces came down with full force on the students.
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League political party said: “The government had already given necessary directives to the armed forces to work as an aid to civil administration regarding ensuring safety of lives of people and public property.
“Curfew is being imposed to save lives of people and public property.”
Schools and colleges have been shut and protesters blocked roads and motorways, crippling much of the country.
Blaming opposition parties for inciting the students, Asaduzzaman Khan, the country’s home minister, accused demonstrators of carrying out “destructive activities” by torching buildings and public property.
He said the curfew imposed will remain in place until the situation improves.