Bangladesh Supreme Court Scraps Quotas in Government Jobs Amid Protests

Bangladesh's Supreme Court has annulled most of the government job quotas, which had prompted student-led protests resulting in 114 deaths. The court's Appellate Division nullified a previous order that reinstated the quotas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initially scrapped the quotas in 2018, but a lower court restored them last month. The protests led to a government crackdown and curfews in Dhaka, with internet and text messaging suspended.

Bangladesh's Supreme Court has annulled most of the government job quotas, a move that triggered student-led protests, causing the deaths of at least 114 people, local media reported.

The court's Appellate Division reversed a lower court's reinstatement of the quotas, directing that 93% of governmental positions be allocated based on merit, the reports indicated.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration had already removed the quota system in 2018, but last month's lower court ruling reignited the issue, leading to widespread student demonstrations and a subsequent government crackdown.

Authorities extended a curfew as preparation for the Supreme Court's hearing on the job quotas continued. Soldiers patrolled Dhaka, the epicenter of the protests, which devolved into violent confrontations between protesters and security forces.

Additionally, internet and text messaging services in Bangladesh have been suspended since Thursday to curb the protests, and it's unclear what the next steps will be regarding the curfew after the ruling.

(With inputs from agencies.)