Unrest in Bangladesh: Supreme Court Rules on Civil Service Hiring Controversy
Bangladesh is currently facing widespread protests and clashes over contentious civil service hiring rules that have resulted in the deaths of 151 people. The Supreme Court recently made a ruling to reduce the number of reserved jobs, but it fell short of meeting the demands of protesters.
The initial protest against politicized admission quotas for government jobs escalated into a nationwide crisis, forcing the deployment of soldiers to maintain order. The court’s decision reduced the number of reserved positions from 56 percent to seven percent, allocating categories for “freedom fighters,” tribal communities, and individuals with disabilities or identifying as third gender, while the remaining 93 percent will be based on merit.
Despite this ruling, public anger remains high, with calls for the government’s resignation intensifying. With a rising death toll and ongoing clashes, uncertainty looms over the country’s future. The situation has attracted international attention, with the US State Department issuing a warning against travel to Bangladesh.
As the country grapples with civil unrest and political turmoil, the repercussions of the Supreme Court’s decision on the civil service hiring controversy remain to be seen.