Cabinet scraps quotas for top govt jobs

FT ONLINE

The cabinet has decided to scrap quota provision in class I and II government jobs following the recommendations of the committee formed by the government to review the existing quota system.

The decision was taken at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam made the announcement after the meeting.

Earlier on July 2, the Public Administration Ministry formed the seven-member committee to review, reform, or revoke the existing quota system, following a nationwide movement of public and private university students demanding its reformation.

On September 17, the committee recommended abolishing the quota system for first and second class government jobs.

In February, students of different public universities and jobseekers, under the banner of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, started the movement.

The movement intensified in April after clashes between the activists and police and Bangladesh Chhatra League on Dhaka University (DU) campus.

Amid countrywide agitation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 11 announced all quotas in civil service would be abolished.

Currently, about 55% of government jobs are reserved for candidates from various quotas, which include freedom fighters (30%), women (10%), district (10%) and small ethnic groups (5%); while recruitment of the remaining 45% officials is merit-based.