Sacrifice needed, not merit

All the Bangladesh Chhatra League men, regardless of qualification, should get jobs for their sacrifice to the cause of the Awami League.
Dr Abdul Aziz, convener of the pro-AL blue panel of Dhaka University teachers, made the demand yesterday in the presence of Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor.
A teacher of chemistry department at the university, Aziz was speaking at a discussion marking the 94th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The BCL unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall organised the programme at the hall premises.
“Chhatra League men neither raised any demand nor sought job for themselves. So I, on behalf of them, demand the incumbent government arrange jobs for all Chhatra League men during its tenure,” he said.
The DU teacher argued: “Chhatra League activists suffered many attacks when the Awami League was in the opposition. These sacrifices make them eligible for jobs.”
Expressing dissatisfaction with a minister's response, Aziz said, “I had requested a minister to give a job to a Chhatra League activist. But the minister turned down my request on the ground that the Chhatra League man got third class in all public exams.”
Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, however, had a different view. “All the Chhatra League men must get jobs. But they should secure jobs on merit rather than be at anyone's mercy,” he mentioned.
Citing the example set by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who risked her life for establishing democracy in the country, Noor advised the BCL men to have the same attitude to succeed in life.
The president and the general secretary of the BCL central committee, H M Bodiuzzaman Shohag and Siddique Nazmul Alam, spoke, among others, but did not comment on the matter.