The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has overturned the High Court's decision on reservation in government jobs.
After massive protests against reservation, the Supreme Court ruled that almost all government jobs should be given on the basis of merit.
On June 5 this year, on the basis of a petition, the High Court had declared the government's notification cancelling reservation in government jobs in the year 2018 as illegal.
The Supreme Court was hearing the reservation system in government jobs in Bangladesh.
This decision of the Supreme Court has come at a time when violent clashes are taking place in Bangladesh over reservation reforms. In view of these violent clashes, the government had imposed curfew on Friday night itself.
At the center of this entire protest in Bangladesh is the 30 percent reservation in government jobs given to the children of those who took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War.
University students have been protesting for the past few days against reservation in government jobs for the children of soldiers who fought in the 1971 Liberation War.
Those who fought for independence from Pakistan in 1971 are called Mukti Yodhhas here. One-third of the government jobs in the country are reserved for their children.
The army has also been deployed in Bangladesh to prevent violent clashes. The Attorney General had filed an application to cancel the High Court order.
In this application, five lawyers representing the students were allowed to speak during the Supreme Court hearing.
Out of the nine lawyers who participated, eight supported the reversal of the High Court's decision, while one advocated reservation reforms.
In 2018, the government initially scrapped the reservation system for Class I and Class II jobs.
The High Court later declared the government's decision illegal on June 5, following which students resumed protests demanding quota reforms.
In Bangladesh, protesters are demanding an amendment to the reservation system by scrapping reservation in government jobs and retaining a maximum of five per cent reservation for backward castes only.
Before the notification to scrap reservation was issued in 2018, there was a provision of a total of 56 per cent reservation in government jobs in five categories - Mukti Yoddha (freedom fighter), district-wise, women, minorities and disabled.
Bangladesh govt welcomes court's decision
The Bangladesh government has welcomed the court's decision on the quota system.
After the decision, Bangladesh Law Minister Anisul Haque said that the government will implement the court's decision.
He said, "We welcome this decision, we think that this decision of the court is a very sensible decision. The government will issue a notification regarding this as soon as possible."
He said that Monday is a holiday and if the notification has to be issued very soon, we will issue it by Tuesday. He said, "The government will have to issue a circular based on the decision and order of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court."
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