Bangladeshi Courts Concede

In Bangladesh, calm has returned to the streets following the Supreme Court's decision to abolish most government job quotas, which had sparked student-led protests and deadly violence. The ruling overturned a lower court's decision, directing that 93% of government jobs should be merit-based. Despite the court's decision, protesters issued new demands, including a public apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the restoration of internet connections. The unrest, which resulted in at least 147 deaths and thousands of injuries, highlighted issues of youth unemployment and the attractiveness of government jobs. The government imposed curfews and deployed security forces to maintain order. While the Home Minister predicted a return to normalcy within days, protesters gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to meet their demands. The situation reflects broader issues of job growth, political tensions, and accusations of authoritarianism against Prime Minister Hasina's government.