Bangladesh has enjoyed uneasy calm amid a curfew as protesters gave the government a 48-hour deadline to meet their new demands.
Widespread telecom service disruptions persisted Monday, a day after the Supreme Court struck down most of the controversial employment quotas that sparked the protests.
Clashes between student protesters and security forces have killed some 163 people across the South Asian nation after the High Court last month revived legislation, revoked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in 2018, that reserves 56 percent of valuable government jobs for groups such as families of freedom fighters, women and people from underdeveloped areas.
However, on Sunday the Supreme Court ordered that 93 percent of state jobs be assigned on the basis of merit.
“We will continue our protests until the government publishes the verdict in the official gazette,” said a student at Dhaka University, speaking on condition of anonymity, referring to the official record of government decisions.
Student protesters have also demanded the release of detained protest leaders, the lifting of the curfew and the reopening of universities closed since Wednesday.
The government was given 48 hours to act, but it was not immediately clear what would happen next.
There were no reports of violence or protests on Monday and media said the curfew would be relaxed for three hours in the afternoon, extended from two hours the day before, to allow people to buy essential goods.
Army tanks were seen parked at various locations on the streets of Dhaka, the capital, while armed security patrols directed the few motorists who ventured out.
Department stores said they were running out of stock due to supply disruptions following the restrictions. The suspension of internet services also affected travel plans and essential services.
Thousands of people were injured in protests last week when security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators.
Experts have blamed the unrest on stagnant private-sector job growth and high youth unemployment rates that have made government jobs, with their regular pay rises and other perks, more attractive.
Hasina, who was sworn in for a fourth consecutive term this year, has been accused in the past of authoritarianism, human rights violations and crackdowns on freedom of expression and dissent – charges her government denies.
