After Supreme Court scraps quota, Bangladesh protesters suspend agitation amid Hasina's crackdown

After the Supreme Court scrapped the contentious job quota, the Bangladesh student groups have suspended protests for 48 hours.

Even as protesters have suspended their movement for now, the military continues to patrol the streets and internet remains suspended in the country.

The protesters have given Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina an ultimatum that internet should be restored while their movement is suspended or they would return to the streets.

In violence over the past one week or so, more than 160 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security personnel. Hundreds more have been injured at over 500 protesters have been arrested.

Uneasy calm after Supreme Court’s fresh ruling

The Bangladesh Supreme Court on Sunday scrapped most of the contentious quota that had been the trigger of protests.

Under the contentious quota system of Bangladesh, around half of all jobs in the country, including civil services posts, were reserved for select groups like the descendants of veterans of the 1971 War of Liberation.

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The critics said the system was rigged in favour of Hasina as her family-run Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) was central to the war of liberation and her father Mujibur Rahman was the leader of the movement and was the first president of Bangladesh after the nation was formed. Hence, the critics said, the quota effectively reserved the jobs for children of Hasina’s supporters.

In its order on Sunday, the Supreme Court ruled that 93 per cent of government jobs should be open to candidates on merit and only 7 per cent should be reserved. Of the 7 per cent reserved jobs, 5 per cent would be reserved for ethnic minorities and 2 per cent for the descendants of freedom fighters, said the top court.

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Even though the immediate trigger of student-led agitation was the quota system, as the Opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) joined the agitating student groups, it took the shape of a broader movement opposed to Hasina and her 15 years of rule in the country. Hasina’s critics have long alleged that she has ruled with an iron fist and claimed democratic backsliding under her. Earlier this year, Hasina effectively won a fourth tern unopposed as the main opposition party, BNP, had boycotted the elections.

Following the Supreme Court’s order, the protesters have suspended the movement an uneasy relative calm prevails in Bangladesh — for now.

More than 160 killed, over 500 arrested in Bangladesh protests

At least 163 people have been killed in the clashes, including “several” police personnel, according to AFP.

The agency has compiled the numbers from police and hospital records.

The police in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, told the agency that “at least 532” people had been arrested in the capital since the protests began. Those arrested include BNP leaders.

As the streets in Dhaka remained largely quiet on Monday, Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said the law and order situation had been brought “under control” since the military was deployed, as per the agency.

Even though the protests have been suspended, sporadic violence was reported on Monday and four people were brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bullet injuries, according to the agency.

The internet remains suspended in Bangladesh. The websites and social media accounts of major media organisations, including newspapers Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star, remain out of operations. Internet freedom watchdog NetBlocks said on X (formerly Twitter): “Network data show #Bangladesh has now been offline for four days with a nationwide internet shutdown remaining in place amidst student protests.”

⚠ Update: Network data show #Bangladesh has now been offline for four days with a nationwide internet shutdown remaining in place amidst student protests ⏲

Protesters are calling for the restoration of telecoms, the release of detainees, and accountability for over 150 deaths. pic.twitter.com/RVn1i1TFJQ

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) July 22, 2024

The usage of military vehicles with United Nations (UN) markings in crushing the protests under question. Moreover, the international scrutiny of Hasina’s heavy-handedness has further been questioned as diplomats summoned by her minister and shown footage purportedly of protesters damaging the property said the government was presenting a one-sided narrative and was not acknowledging the firing by own police personnel.