Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has significantly reduced a controversial job quota system following a week of nationwide unrest that led to the deaths of more than 100 people, as reported by local media. Students have been protesting against a policy that allocated 30% of government jobs to descendants of veterans from Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971. Critics argued that the quota disproportionately benefited allies of the governing Awami League party, which spearheaded the independence movement against Pakistan.

In response to the demonstrations, the Supreme Court decreed that the quota for veterans’ descendants be reduced to 5%, with 93% of jobs now based on merit. The remaining 2% will be reserved for ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities. This verdict comes after a series of protests, primarily led by students, turned deadly when groups associated with the Awami League attacked the demonstrators. Campaigners have accused the police of using excessive force against the protesters.

Despite welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision, student groups organising the protests have vowed to continue their demonstrations until all their demands are met, including the release of jailed protesters and the resignation of officials responsible for the violence. Previously, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government imposed a curfew, deployed the army, and issued shoot-at-sight orders to suppress the largest protests since her re-election for a fourth consecutive term this year.

Universities have been closed and Bangladesh has faced a communications blockade since the unrest began last week. The violence escalated as police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades against stone-throwing protesters. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced that the curfew, which was imposed before the Supreme Court ruling, would be lifted briefly for people to stock up on supplies before continuing indefinitely. The recent protests were ignited by the High Court’s reinstatement of the quota system last month, a decision the Supreme Court has now declared illegal.