In the wake of a lull in violent clashes that have engulfed the streets of Bangladesh, protesters have issued demands to the government. Despite a recent decision by the Supreme Court to scale back the controversial job quota system, student leaders vow to continue demonstrations until their demands are met. The Supreme Court ruling followed a deadly government crackdown, resulting in reported casualties of 163 people, hundreds of arrests, and thousands of injuries.

The protesters are calling for the release of detained protest leaders, the lifting of the military-imposed curfew, and the reopening of universities which have been closed since Wednesday. They have given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to fulfill their demands. The demonstrators have also demanded accountability for the crackdown and the resignation of ministers responsible for ordering the violence.

Although the court has largely annulled the quotas, the protesters insist on swift formalization of the ruling and are seeking assurance that changes will be implemented promptly. Law Minister Anisul Huq has committed to implementing the necessary legislative changes within a matter of days.

While the military curfew was temporarily relaxed on Monday to allow citizens to purchase essentials, internet connections remained severed for the fourth consecutive day in the country of 170 million people. Despite a nationwide call for a shutdown by the protesters, there were no reports of any further fatalities or large-scale gatherings as a tentative calm persisted. Soldiers continued to patrol the streets, and tanks were stationed across the capital city of Dhaka.

Bangladesh Army Chief, General Waker uz Zaman, stated on Monday that the situation has been brought under control following the deployment of the army. However, protest leader Nahid Islam, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka, expressed concerns for his safety. He revealed that he and other coordinators fear for their lives and that some of their fellow coordinators are missing. Nahid accused the authorities of irresponsible behavior, provocative remarks, and repression, holding them responsible for the escalating tension.

The ongoing protests come at a time when Bangladesh's economy faces various challenges, including inflation and high youth unemployment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights violations, now faces her biggest challenge yet with these anti-government protests. Furthermore, the government has expanded its crackdown on opposition parties, resulting in at least 70 arrests within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The controversial job quota system, which aimed to reserve government jobs for relatives of war veterans and other groups, was initially set aside by the government but later reinstated by the court. However, following the recent ruling, 93 percent of public sector jobs will be allocated based on merit, with 5 percent reserved for veterans' family members, and an additional 2 percent set aside for individuals from ethnic minorities or with disabilities.