Bangladesh’s capital was calm on Monday after the Supreme Court agreed to abolish most of the government’s job quotas, which had sparked student-led protests.
On Sunday evening, demonstrators gave the government 48 hours to meet a list of demands, including a public apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the violence and the restoration of internet connections that were disrupted during the unrest.
However, on Monday, most citizens appeared to be complying with a curfew in cities that had seen regular demonstrations following a high court decision in June to reinstate old quotas that reserved many state jobs for descendants of freedom fighters and other groups.
At least 147 people have died in the violence, according to hospital records.
A public holiday declared for the past two days has been extended to Tuesday, according to a government announcement.
“Normalcy will return within one or two days,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters.
Experts have attributed the unrest to sluggish job growth in the private sector and high youth unemployment rates, making government jobs, with their regular wage increases and other benefits, more appealing.
Hasina, 76, who was sworn in for a fourth consecutive term this year, has been accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and crackdowns on free speech and dissent in the past – charges her government denies.
The recent clashes followed similar violent protests ahead of January’s national elections by Hasina’s opponents in response to what they called her authoritarian rule, and by garment workers demanding better pay amid high inflation.
On Monday, officials reported no incidents of violence or protests across the country.
Army tanks were seen stationed in several locations, while armed security patrols directed the few motorists who ventured out.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division ruled in favor of the government’s appeal, overturning the lower court’s decision and scrapping most of the quotas. The court directed that 93% of government jobs should be open to candidates based on merit.
Hours after the ruling, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement issued a statement demanding that the government reopen campuses and lift restrictions imposed during the protests.
The statement also called for the resignation of several ministers and university officials, as well as the dismissal of police officers deployed in areas where students were killed.
“We are giving an ultimatum to the government to fulfill our eight-point demand within 48 hours,” Hasnat Abdullah, one of the Movement’s leaders, told reporters.
He did not specify what would happen if the government did not meet the demands. The government did not immediately respond.
Thousands were injured during last week’s protests as security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators.
Protesters said some of their leaders were detained, including Nahid Islam, who told the media he was taken away by “20-30 people” claiming to be police early Sunday morning and taken to a room where he said he was tortured until he lost consciousness.
“When I regained consciousness I found myself lying on the streets,” he said.
Reuters could not immediately verify Islam’s account.
Bangladesh’s $416 billion economy had been one of the fastest-growing in the world for years but has faced challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Costly energy imports following the war in Ukraine have depleted its dollar reserves, fueling inflation and prompting the government to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.