THE government appears to have somewhat restored peace using coercion amidst the student protests that seek reforms in civil service job reservations, which began on July 1, and the unrest born out of the event. This is what appears to have been manifest in the expression, thought and remarks of government leaders and functionaries. But it could be a mistake for the government to believe that it has successfully contained the students鈥� legitimate movement by using coercion with the employment of the ruling Awami League鈥檚 fronts Chhatra League and Juba League and the deployment of law enforcement units, border guards and army personnel, who were called out in aid of civil administration. The Appellate Division on July 21 revoked the High Court order of June 5 that ordered the reinstatement of the reservations of 30 per cent of civil service jobs for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters and brought down the percentage of job reservations from the earlier 56 per cent to 7 per cent 鈥� 5 per cent of the jobs reserved for the children of freedom fighters, 1 per cent for national minorities and 1 per cent for people with disabilities and the third gender, leaving 93 per cent to be based on merit. The appeals court has also laid out a guideline on the implementation of the verdict and the government has agreed.
But the new demands that have emerged during the protest days have remained unmet. The verdict also appears unclear. There are a number of reasons for all this. The students have demanded that the reforms in job reservations should apply to the recruitment of civil servants of all grades, not only Grade 9鈥�13. The court verdict has reportedly remained silent about this. Many, meanwhile, believe that the abolition of job reservations for women, which was 10 per cent in the earlier scheme, has not been right. The movement began with the attacks on the protesters by the Chhatra League. Hundreds of cases have so far been filed during the protests. But it was only the protesters who have so far been accused in the cases. Until all the cases filed against the protesters are withdrawn and Chhatra League attackers are brought to justice, peace may not have been restored. All schools and colleges have remained closed since July 16. All universities have remained closed since July 17. Public movement has been restricted. And, the curfew ordered midnight past July 19 continues. The students have demanded that the home minister should resign for the police attacks on the students and the Awami League鈥檚 general secretary, also the roads and bridges minister, should resign for the provocation of the Chhatra League to launch the attacks. They have also demanded punishment of the attackers through a credible investigation. If all the issues are not effectively and credibly attended to, the situation may not improve on a path to lasting peace.
If the government, in such a situation, does not set right all the issues and demands that have come up amidst the student movement and effectively sort out the issues now, the student movement might flare up again any time at the slightest chance and peace would not be sustainably restored.
