The highest court in Bangladesh has scrapped controversial job reservation quotas after unrest which left at least 100 people dead, with 50 people being killed on Friday.
A third of government jobs had been reserved for the veterans of Bangladesh’s independence war in the 1970s. Relatives of these veterans also benefited from these policies.
The court ruled that only 5% of jobs can now be reserved for veterans and their families.
The Bangladeshi government initially reacted harshly to the protests, implementing a nationwide curfew and cutting off communications.
Protestors also said that the governing Awami League party had misused the system to reward its supporters.
Bangladesh has been one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in recent years, but this growth has not translated into jobs.
Bangladesh used to be part of Pakistan but fought an eight-month-long war in 1971 for independence. The independence movement had been supported militarily by Pakistan’s arch-rival, India.
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