Govt issues circular abolishing quota

According to the decision of cabinet meeting the government has issued circular reforming the quota system. The circular was issued on Thursday signed by public administration Secretary Fayez Ahmed.

The circular said, for 9^th grade (former 1^st class) and 10^th to 13^th grade (former 2^nd class) appointment candidates will be appointed on the basis of merit. The existing quota system is declared abolished.

It also said, for direct appointment in all government departments, autonomous and semi autonomous institutions and in different corporations the quota system is reformed which was issued in March 17, 1997.

Meanwhile, several organizations are staging movement at Shahbag on the capital for reinstating 30 percent quota for freedom fighters in government jobs. The circular reforming the quota system was issued during their ongoing movement.

It is mentionable that the proposal for abolishing quota was approved in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday last.

After the meeting the cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam told the newsmen that the gazette would be issued within two or three days and it will be effective from the day it is issued.

‘But if the government in future thinks that quota is needed for any backward groups then the path is open. At that time the government again will take measures after forming committee. All types of quotas will effective for third and fourth class government jobs. That means they will get quota in these jobs.’

So far for recruitment in government jobs 56 percent posts were reserved by different quotas. Of those 30 percent was for children of freedom fighters, women 10 percent, district 10 percent, ethnic groups 5 percent and disabled 1 percent.

Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Council staged harsh movement for their demand of bringing down quota for government jobs into 10 percent some months back. Later the movement spread throughout the country.

AH