Student protests in Bangladesh have been suspended for 48 hours, a day after the Supreme Court ruled to suspend most quotas in the public sector.
“We are suspending the demonstrations for 48 hours”Nahid Islam, leader of the main movement organizing the protests, Students Against Discrimination, told AFP, calling on the government to “lift the curfew during this period, restore internet access and stop attacks on student protesters.”
In fact, Bangladesh appeared calm today amid the curfew that was imposed.
However, problems remain in telecommunications.
At least 147 people, according to a Reuters tally, were killed in clashes between students and security forces. AFP reports 163 dead.
The protests began in early July with a demand for changes to the public sector recruitment system. Currently, around half of the vacancies are reserved for specific social groups, such as the children of veterans of the country’s liberation war against Pakistan.
The Supreme Court’s decision
Yesterday, Sunday, however, the Supreme Court’s appellate division overturned a lower court ruling that had reinstated quotas, ruling that 93 percent of public sector jobs will be open to candidates based on merit, with no quotas in place.
The protesting students also demanded the release of the movement’s imprisoned leaders and the reopening of universities that have been closed since Wednesday.
There were no reports of violence today, and media reported that the curfew would be relaxed for three hours at noon, instead of yesterday’s two, to allow citizens to obtain essential supplies.
Tanks are parked at many points on the streets of the capital Dhaka, while armed security guards on patrol direct the few motorists on the move.
Shortage of products
Stores say they are starting to address the situation shortage of products due to supply problems since the curfew.
Additionally, the suspension of internet operations caused problems for travelers’ essential plans and services.
Many migrant workers gathered at an airline’s offices yesterday to collect their tickets booked online, while others gathered at the offices of a power company in Dhaka’s Tezgaon district to pay their electricity bills themselves.
Sources: AMPE, Reuters, AFP