Quota Suspensions Sparking Ongoing Student ProtestsQuota Suspensions Sparking Ongoing Student Protests Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has temporarily suspended a controversial quota system that reserves job positions for specific groups, including children of liberation heroes. The quota system has been met with widespread protests from students who argue that it discriminates against those not included in the designated groups. The suspension comes amidst nationwide demonstrations by students, who have blocked highways and railway tracks in protest. A protest leader from Chittagong University has declared that the students will not return to classes until their demand for a merit-based system is met. The quota system was previously abolished in 2018 after facing significant protests. However, it was reinstated in June by Dhaka’s High Court, prompting a renewed wave of anger from students. The Supreme Court’s suspension of the reinstatement is a temporary measure that will last for a month. Despite the suspension, student groups have continued their protests, demanding a permanent executive order from the government abolishing the quota system, with exceptions for the disabled and minorities. The protests have caused significant traffic disruptions in the capital Dhaka and other major cities. The situation remains fluid, with students continuing to voice their frustrations and demand a fair and equitable job allocation system. The government is facing pressure to address the concerns raised by the students and find a long-term solution that meets the demands of all parties involved.
Bangladesh’s top court on Wednesday temporarily suspended quotas for coveted government jobs after thousands of students staged nationwide protests against what they call a discriminatory system, lawyers said.The quota system reserves more than half of well-paid and massively over-subscribed civil service posts, totalling hundreds of thousands of government jobs, for specific groups including children of liberation heroes.Students launched protests earlier this month, demanding a merit-based system, with demonstrations on Wednesday blocking highways and railway lines.”We will not return to classrooms until our demand is met,” protest leader Rasel Ahmed of Chittagong University said.The quota system was abolished in 2018 after weeks of protests, but reinstated in June by Dhaka’s High Court, sparking fury from students. The Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended that order for a month, said lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque, who represents two students seeking to end the quota system.Hoque said chief justice Obaidul Hassan had also requested that students return to class.Despite the call, student groups continued to block key highways and railway tracks, bringing traffic movement in much of the capital Dhaka and several major cities to a halt. “This (court) order is temporary. We want a permanent executive order from the government, saying that the quotas are abolished, except some quotas for the disabled and minorities,” said Parvez Mosharraf, a student at Dhaka University.
