Bangladesh has enjoyed an unsteady calm amid a curfew, while protesters have given the government a 48-hour deadline to meet their new demands.
Widespread telecommunications outages persisted on Monday, a day after the Supreme Court struck down most of the controversial employment quotas that led to the rallies.
Clashes between student protesters and security forces killed some 163 people across the South Asian country after the Supreme Court last month revived legislation – repealed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2018 – reserving 56 percent of valuable government jobs for groups such as freedom fighter families, women and people from underdeveloped areas.
On Sunday, however, the Supreme Court ordered that 93 percent of government jobs be given on the basis of merit.
“We will continue our protests until the government publishes the verdict in the gazette,” said a Dhaka University student, speaking on condition of anonymity, in a reference to the government’s official record of decisions.
Student protesters also demanded the release of detained protest leaders, the lifting of the curfew and the reopening of universities closed since Wednesday.
The government was given 48 hours to act, but it was not immediately clear what would happen next.
There were no reports of violence or protests on Monday and media said the curfew would be relaxed for three hours in the afternoon, extended from two hours the previous day, so people could buy essential items.
Army tanks were seen parked in several locations on the streets of Dhaka, the capital, as armed security patrols directed the few motorists who ventured out.
Department stores said they were running out of stock due to supply disruptions following the restrictions. The suspension of internet services also affected travel plans and essential services.
Thousands of people were injured in last week’s protests, when security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades to disperse protesters.
Experts have blamed the unrest on stagnant private sector job growth and high youth unemployment rates that have made government jobs, with their regular pay rises and other perks, more attractive.
Hasina, who took office for a fourth consecutive term this year, has been accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations and repression of freedom of expression and dissent in the past – accusations that her government denies.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
