New Delhi: Bangladeshi authorities extended a curfew on July 21 before the country’s Supreme Court ruled to reduce government job quotas that this week sparked nationwide student-led protests. At least 105 people died in the unrest.
The quotas originally reserved 30% of positions in the civil service for the families of people who fought for independence from Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Local media reported that a curfew imposed late on July 19 was to run until 3 pm local time, after the hearing, then continue until further notice after a two-hour break for people to take in supplies.
Internet and text message services in Bangladesh have been suspended since July 18 amid the protests, and universities and colleges have been closed since July 17.
Bengal chief minister’s comments
Speaking at the Trinamool Congress’s Martyrs’ Day rally in central Kolkata, the Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday, July 21, that the state is willing to shelter those “knocking on the doors of Bengal.”
“I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh since that is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the issue is a subject matter for the Centre. But I can tell you this – if helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” Banerjee said.
Later, she also posted on X.
Hundreds of students and others are returning to West Bengal/ India, from the trouble-torn Bangladesh.
AdvertisementI have asked our State administration to render all help and assistance to the returnees.
For instance, around 300 students arrived at Hilli border today and most of them left…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 21, 2024
Official sources in the Union government said these comments are misplaced. “These are matters which are handled by the Union Government. A State Government has no locus standi on the issue and as such their comments are totally misplaced,” they said.
Also read: From Quotas to Carnage: The Violent Suppression of Bangladesh’s Youth Movement
What did the Bangladesh court say?
“The Supreme Court has said the high court verdict was illegal,” Attorney-general A.M. Amin Uddin told AFP news agency, referring to a ruling last month that reintroduced the quotas.
He said that just 5% of civil service jobs would remain reserved for children of independence war veterans and 2% for other categories.
The quota rules were scrapped by government in 2018 and their reintroduction caused widespread anger, particularly among the country’s young people, who make up around a fifth of the population. Anger at the quotas is especially rife among young graduates, who are facing an acute jobs crisis.
The Supreme Court brought forward the hearing, which was originally scheduled for August 7, to Sunday.
Some observers say that public anger will continue at the government even though the top court has decided to reduce the quotas.
The demonstrations in the past week, led largely by university students, were the largest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was reelected for a fourth successive term this year in a vote without any real opposition.
With inputs from DW.
