Staff Reporter :
Following a period of heightened tension and unrest, Dhaka is slowly reclaiming its bustling rhythm as the city gradually resumes its daily activities.
With a relaxed curfew in place, city shops open in their large numbers, no apparent violence in the country and resumption of train and bus operations though partially amid the political unrest, Dhaka slowly wears its signature feature.
The recent political turmoil, sparked by student protests advocating for quota reforms in public service, led to widespread disruptions across the capital and beyond.
In a bid to restore calm, the government implemented a reduced curfew and gradually reopened businesses and public services.
Government offices, private enterprises, and financial institutions cautiously reopened their doors on Wednesday, operating on a limited schedule from 11am to 3pm.
Transportation networks, including trains and buses, cautiously resumed operations amidst the subdued atmosphere.
Although privately owned vehicles remained sparse, the streets teemed with rickshaws and CNG-run autorickshaws, emblematic of Dhaka’s resilient spirit.
Residents welcomed the restoration of broadband internet services in some areas, albeit with restrictions on social media access, which had been severely impacted during the disturbances.
The State Minister for Post, Telecommunication and ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, assured that efforts were underway to fully reinstate services across vital sectors like government institutions and media outlets.
Moreover, Dhaka’s commercial heartbeat, the garment factories, restarted production after enduring a forced hiatus due to the unrest, resulting in substantial financial losses.
The easing of the curfew from 10am to 5pm on Wednesday marked a pivotal step towards normalcy, facilitating increased traffic and bustling markets.
The city, adorned with its characteristic vitality, witnessed a resurgence in commercial activities as shops reopened and citizens resumed their daily routines.
It may be mentioned that the policy, which reserved 30 percent of civil service positions for descendants of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence, has sparked fervent debate and dissent across the nation.
The protests, originally ignited by students demanding an end to what they deemed a discriminatory quota system, quickly escalated into violent clashes with police forces.
The unrest took a deadly turn when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, major opposition groups, threw their weight behind the demonstrators.
Amid escalating tensions, the Supreme Court intervened, mandating a reduction of the veterans’ quota from 30percent to 5 percent, with the remaining 93percent of government jobs to be allocated based on merit.
Additionally, a small percentage will be reserved for ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and the disabled.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s directive, the government swiftly issued a circular on Tuesday, signaling its acceptance of the reform.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration expressed readiness to implement the revised quota system, a move welcomed by proponents of merit-based recruitment.
However, despite the apparent victory for protesters, grievances over the violence that ensued during the demonstrations persist. Critics have called on the government to address the casualties and bloodshed that marked the clashes.