Recruitment reforms hold little hope

The new line-up of Public Service Commission (PSC) has failed to bring any change to the 55 percent quota system, which has long been branded as a bar to recruiting meritorious officials in the civil service.
The PSC had earlier sent a set of recommendations to the establishment ministry to amend the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) recruitment rules. But the commission did not say anything about the quota system, although previous PSC bodies on several occasions suggested its curtailment.
"A whole lot of changes are being introduced in the BCS recruitment rules following analysis of the recommendations sent by the PSC," Establishment Secretary Abdus Salam Khan told The Daily Star. But the PSC did not mention anything about the quota system, he added.
He however said at this moment they have no plan to abolish or curtail the existing quota. "I personally think time has not come yet to abolish the system. It will be abolished when the government thinks it necessary."
Only 45 percent of the public servants are selected on merit. The remaining of both cadre and non-cadre service holders includes 30 percent freedom fighters or their offspring, 10 percent women, 10 percent residents of certain districts and five percent indigenous people.
Academics, former and present PSC members and jobseekers have long been pointing out that "unskilled or semi-skilled" candidates often pass the BCS exams thanks to the quota system.
A secretarial committee has already approved the draft proposal of the BCS recruitment rules designed by the establishment ministry following the PSC recommendations.
Establishment ministry sources said the draft is now being checked by the law ministry, which will send it to the chief adviser and the president for approval.
According to the draft, pass course graduates won't be able to apply, marks would be deducted in the preliminary test for wrong answers, candidates must obtain 50 percent marks on average in written test, and editors of national dailies may be included in the viva committee.
Besides these, there are some more changes, but the quota system remains unchanged despite growing demand for its abolition from different quarters.
PSC members said abolishing or curtailing the privilege is the responsibility of the establishment ministry, they can only recommend changes.
Previously, the PSC had made repeated recommendations to that end, but the ministry under political governments paid no heed to it, they added.
The immediate past PSC chairman Prof ZN Tahmida Begum placed recommendations for cancelling quota system before President Iajuddin Ahmed while submitting the annual report in 2003.
Incumbent Chairman Saadat Hossain said they sent a set of recommendations to the establishment ministry to bring back transparency in the commission and in the examination system.
However, incumbent and former PSC members, academics and candidates had suggested that the government immediately abolished the quota system, which apparently allows a bunch of "unskilled" people to enter public service.
PSC member M Abdur Rauf said quota should be curtailed for the greater interest of the nation. "At least 75 percent of places should be on merit, while the rest may be distributed on the basis of gender, ethnic and religious identity."
Former PSC member Prof Dr Mohabbat Khan blamed the quota system for the present "miserable condition" in the civil service.
"The public are now suffering for unskilled or semi-skilled civil service officers. The people will be deprived of government services if the system is not completely removed," he said.
"I think cent percent of the candidates should be recruited on merit. When I was with the PSC during 1999-2004, we had suggested that the government cut the quota to 25 percent."
Thousands of jobseekers have been disappointed hearing the news that the quota would remain.
"It's my fate I've not come from a privileged family, for example, a freedom fighter's family. Many candidates, whose educational background is much poorer than mine, have been recruited through the 24th and 25th BCS exams thanks to quota," said Utpal Kumar Das who faced four viva voce.
Fair BCS Movement President Abu Tareq said every quota should go so that meritorious candidates can enter civil service.
"I'm not denying contributions of our freedom fighters. But all I want to say is that our freedom fighters are being embarrassed and the martyrs' spirit is being undermined for this system."
DISTRICT QUOTA
The 10 percent district quota has been set considering the population volume of the districts.
"At first, the district quota is set among the divisions based on total population. Then it is again distributed among the districts based on total population in the districts of certain division," a top official of PSC said.
"Candidates of overcrowded districts get the privilege of the district quota, while those of less populated districts are deprived. I think the government should immediately revoke district quota because it is a discrimination against meritorious candidates," said Mohabbat Khan.
PSC sources on the other hand said irregularities occurred in previous BCS examinations centring the 55 percent quota.