Some quotas should stay
Apparently not content with the suggestion of the government review committee of abolishing almost all quotas in civil service, quota reformists yesterday said a certain quota should be kept in place.
Leaders of Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, the platform of quota reformists, made the remarks at a press conference at the auditorium of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh.
They earlier had said the quotas should be reduced to 10 percent from the existing 56 percent, but did not mention which section of jobseekers would be appointed under the quota system and under what percentage.
Meanwhile, detectives last night picked up a Dhaka University student from Shamsunnahar Hall area.
Some plainclothes detectives picked up Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, an activist of quota reform movement, of sociology department for what DB officials claimed uploading provocative Facebook posts.
On Monday, Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam, chief of the seven-member review committee, told journalists that the panel suggested abolishing almost all quotas and prioritising a merit-based recruitment system.
He said the committee would also seek the Supreme Court's opinion about the 30 percent quota for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren.
Yesterday, the quota reform movement leaders also reiterated their three-point demand, including unconditional release of the arrested leaders of the platform and exemplary punishment of the attackers of quota reformists. They issued an ultimatum to the government to fulfil their demands by August 31.
Speaking at the press conference, Bin Yamin Molla, a joint convener of the quota reform platform, said people of all walks of life had extended their support to their five-point demand to reform the existing quota system in civil service and hence it was proved that the existing system was unacceptable and discriminatory.
He said they were considering the cabinet secretary's initial proposal, attaching top priority to it.
“But we think it would be more logical and acceptable to the students if they [government] reform the existing quotas in line with our five-point demand,” said Yamin.
He said distrust and doubt about the government have been created in the protestors' mind as it did not take any initiative even after sitting with the protest movement leaders for four times. The government rather resorted to repressing protestors, he alleged.
Yamin also said the government was using a Supreme Court observation as an excuse to delay the reforms.
He said the existing problems could be resolved through a discussion. He urged the government to sit with the quota reformists immediately.
Another joint convener of the platform Ataullah demanded security of the protestors saying that most of the movement leaders could not even enter their respective university campuses.
The quota reformists, mainly university students and jobseekers, took to the streets in mid February demanding reforms in public service.
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