Quota Reform: Committee holds 1st meet today

The seven-member committee formed “to review or reform or cancel” the quota system for the civil service will sit for its first meeting today.

The committee, led by Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam, will work on the format of the quota system.

"The meeting will take place at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat," he told The Daily Star last night.

The government formed the committee on July 2 asking it to submit a report within 15 workings days amid protests by students and jobseekers demanding reformation of the quota system, and after some of them were attacked allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists.

Other members of the committee are secretaries of public administration ministry, finance ministry, Liberation War affairs ministry, law ministry (legislative division), Public Service Commission, along with acting secretary to the Prime Minister's Office.

Earlier in February, students of different public universities and jobseekers, under the banner of "Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad", started a movement demanding reforms in the quota.

Amid countrywide agitation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on April 11, announced the abolition all types of quotas in public jobs.

But as no gazette notification was issued in this regard, the protesters began boycotting classes and examinations in all universities and colleges on May 14 for an indefinite period.

At present, 56 percent of government jobs are reserved for candidates under various quotas. Of the 56 percent, 30 percent are kept for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people of underdeveloped districts, five percent for members of indigenous communities and one percent for the physically challenged.