New complexity after quota abolition
A new crisis has emerged following the abolition of the quota system from 9th to 13th grades (class I and class II) in government jobs.
The government took the decision amid a series of student movements demanding reforms in the quota system that started in April.
In the end, the government on 4 October finally issued a circular entirely abolishing the quota system in recruitment of officers in class I and II public sector jobs, keeping the provision of quota only for Class III and IV jobs.
Following the circular, children of freedom fighters took to the street and blocked city's Shahbagh intersection, creating a new crisis.
They also staged demonstration blocking roads at different parts of the country. However, the number of the protesters was very few.
Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command took position in Shahbagh intersection area yesterday [Thursday] rejecting the circular issued by the public administration ministry.
Leaders of the forum said they will announce the next course of action from a grand rally, to be organised on Saturday.
They said they will continue the sit-in programmes until quota is restored.
Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command central president Sheikh Atiqur Rahman said they will also go to the court to challenge the decision.
They decided to continue the movement under the banner of ‘Muktijoddha Mancha’. Professor of sociology at Dhaka University AKM Jamal Uddin was made the spokesperson of the mancha.
Dhaka University unit leaders and activists of the command and its Dhaka metropolitan unit, Muktijoddha families, Muktijoddha Sansad Online Command, Muktijoddha Prajanma and several other forums’ leaders and activists have expressed their solidarity with the movement.
Citizens suffered as the blockaders did not allow any vehicle, except ambulances and police cars, to move through the area. Policemen were also not seen taking any measures to bring normalcy in the area.
The Adivasi Quota Reform Parishad has announced to observe a half-day hartal and strike in ethnic group dominating areas of the country.
Leaders of both the organisation of freedom fighters’ children and the ethnic minorities said they will challenge the decision at the court.
Adivashi Quota Sanrakkhan Parishad coordinator William Nokrek said they would block the roads in Nodda of Gulshan area in the capital and take legal actions to reinstate the quota system in public jobs.
The Chittagong hill tracts affairs ministry in a recent meeting also demanded quota for ethnic groups be reinstated.
Expert and quota reform activists said this would not have happened if the quota reform issue was dealt logically.
Ganasanhati Andolan chief coordinator Zunaid Saki said the movement was for reformation of quota and not for abolishing the system.
Muktijoddha Santan and Muktijoddhar Santan Oikya Parishad of Sylhet district and metropolitan demonstrated in the Zindabazar area of the city on Thursday afternoon.
They also brought out a protest procession. Later, they announced a week-long programme.
The sons of freedom fighters, ethnic minors and specially abled students of the Islamic University, Kushtia demonstrated blocking the Kushtia-Jhenaidah highway for abolishing the quota.
In Rajshahi, Adibashi Chhatra Parishad, a forum of ethnic minority students, demonstrated demanding restoration of the system.
Rajshahi University units of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command and Amra Muktijoddhar Santan also staged protest rally blocking the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in front of the main gate of the university.
Narayanganj district unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command formed a human chain in front of the press club yesterday afternoon.
People from different walks of life are now thinking of the matter whether the decision to abolish the quota is a ‘new tactic’ of the government.
About the decision, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said the quota has been scrapped as many people do not want it.
“If you want restoration of quota system, you have to take to the street,” Hasina said at a media briefing on 3 October.
The circular says the abolition will be applicable for all government offices, autonomous and half-autonomous institutions and even public corporation.
The cabinet approval committee placed a recommendation saying that if the government thinks that quota is required for any marginalised groups, it will take necessary steps.
But, the circular released on 4 October mentioned nothing about this despite legal prohibition regarding the physically challenged people.
Till date, 55 per cent people in the government jobs were recruited through different quotas.
Ministers and leaders of the ruling party came up with a mixture of feedback over the matter. At least five ministers at the cabinet meeting spoke in favour of quota system.
However, students demonstrating for reforms in quota system are yet to say anything after the publication of the circular.
Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhon Parishad (Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council) convenor Hasan Al Mamun told Prothom Alo yesterday that they will soon take a decision about their next course of action.
Ruling AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said no one has to make any demand for the freedom fighters to the incumbent government.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will take actions if any demand is justified and practical, he added.
Asked about the matter, former cabinet secretary and adviser to a caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan told Prothom Alo that the first administrative committee recommended abolishing the entire quota system.
The government has now abolished it and it is good, he said.
*The piece, originally published in the print edition of Prothom Alo, has been rewritten in English by Toriqul Islam and Shameem Reza