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Ali Riaz, a political science professor at Illinois State University, thinks the court's recommendation has "come too late" and leaves the ball in the government's court.

"Until a law is passed by the parliament, it will remain the prerogative of the executive branch to change it at some point," he said. "But the court decision smacks of the executive branch's influence. What ensures that this cannot be changed in the future?"

Riaz added that the government did not expect such a violent reaction to the quota reform.

"Violence spread and lives were lost because the government was not expecting such a reaction around the country. The ruling party was quite complacent after the January election and thought it was invincible," he said.

"Unfortunately, the victims of the quota movement won't have justice, definitely not under the present government," Riaz stressed, adding that Hasina's government has a track record of resorting to "brute force" to tamp down opposition.