Reform quota system to restore normalcy in edu institutions: Moudud

BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed today urged the government to accept the students’ demand for reformation of quota system in civil service in order to restore normalcy in the country's educational institutions.

“Please uphold the prime minister's announcement. Otherwise, people will take up the matter in their hands to realise the demand,” Moudud said this while addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

On July 12, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament that it is not possible to reform freedom fighter quota in government jobs as there is a High Court verdict to continue it.

Earlier on April 11, the premier announced in the House to abolish the quota system in public service recruitments to stop sufferings of people and avoid hassles of tackling movements time and again.

Moudud also criticised the PM as she made a reverse turn from her stance and urged her to take an initiative for ensuring unconditional release of all the quota reform activiists from jail and to stop repression on them.

"The countrymen will not remain isolated from the quota reformists. They will go for a tough movement collectively to force the government to uphold the prime minister's announcement," Moudud warned.

Terming the government as intolerable, Moudud, also a former law minister, said the premier has shown an excuse in the name of the court verdict over the quota reform issue.

"If there is any order in this regard, the government should take legal step immediately to correct the verdict to uphold the prime minister's commitment," he said.

No election with Khaleda in jail

Moudud held the government responsible for prolonging BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's inprisonment and said his party will go for a planned movement at an appropriate time to oust the autocratic ruler.

The BNP leader once again cleared his part's stance that they will not participate in the upcoming general election keeping Khaleda Zia in jail.

He also called upon his party men to be united for taking to the street in a bid to force the government to free the party chief from jail.

"If you want restoration of democracy, rule of law and freedom of press, please be united as we will have to take to the street," he said.