The Supreme Court yesterday hoped that the students would call off their demonstrations for quota reforms following its verdict in a quota-related case and return to their educational institutions.

The deaths of many people during the demonstrations were "unexpected", observed the apex court while delivering the verdict.

It said it expects the judicial probe commission, led by a High Court judge, to unearth the reasons behind the deaths of the students and the government to take necessary legal steps against those responsible as per the recommendations of the commission.

The seven-member bench, led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, requested the government to ensure necessary support to the commission so that it can perform its duty. 

It also asked the government to help establish a favourable environment at educational institutions immediately.

According to the verdict, 93 percent government jobs would be based on merit while the remaining seven percent recruitments would be on quotas.

The court said the 2018 government circular cancelling quotas in government jobs was reinstated when the Supreme Court issued a status quo on the High Court's verdict on July 10.

Earlier, the High Court had declared the circular illegal.

"But our students could not properly realise the actual meaning of our order, resulting in different unwanted incidents and many deaths, which is in no way desirable," it said.

The chief justice said they have asked the protesters to place their points before the court through their lawyers but they did not. However, two students, on the behalf of general students, appeared before the court seeking the scrapping of the HC verdict, he said.

The court asked the students to return to their educational institutions immediately and get ready to take on the great responsibility of the state in future.

It asked the chiefs of all universities, colleges, schools, and madrasas to immediately take necessary measures so that students can return to their institutions.

The court urged parents to tell their children to return to their institutions and focus on studies.

It said the students are the future of the country and that they would one day take on responsibility of the judiciary, the executive, and the legislative.

"They have to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and the independence in their thoughts and minds; and only then the country will not deviate from its goal. Our motherland, established by the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will survive," the court said.

"The martyrs and the freedom fighters are the brightest sons of the soil. We achieved the red-green flag thanks to their sacrifice. The nation will not accept anything disrespectful towards them. Everybody should be careful so that no one fails to pay the due respect to the sacrifice of the valiant freedom fighters," it said.