Quota system in civil service challenged
A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking cancellation of the quota system in the civil service.
The petitioners -- two journalists and a Dhaka University student -- submitted the prayer to the HC yesterday.
They appealed to the court to direct the government to re-evaluate the quota system, describing it as discriminatory and contrary to the constitution.
DU student Anisur Rahman Mir, Member Secretary of Comilla Journalists' Association Didarul Alam and Senior Sub-editor of daily Amader Orthoneeti Abdul Wadud filed the petition.
The petitioners said the constitution does not allow any discrimination.
In the petition, they mentioned that the then government on November 5 in 1972 had introduced 30 percent quota for the freedom fighters and 10 percent quota for the women who were affected during the Liberation War for jobs at government, private, defence, semi-government and nationalised institutions.
Later, the quota system was reformed.
On June 3, 2014, DU student Shahabuddin Shaheen took his life as he failed to get a government job due to the quota system, they cited in the petition.
The petitioners said the quota system in the civil service is against the provisions of articles 19, 28 and 29 of the constitution, which ensure equal opportunities for all citizens.
Their lawyer Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan told The Daily Star that he would move the writ petition before the HC next week for its hearing.
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