'Quota reform movement to continue'

Hasan Al Mamun, convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhon Parishad (Bangladesh General Students` Rights Protection Council), speaks at a press conference in front of the central library on Monday.
Hasan Al Mamun, convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhon Parishad (Bangladesh General Students` Rights Protection Council), speaks at a press conference in front of the central library on Monday.

The students demonstrating for reforms in the quota system have said they would continue their movement until a gazette is published reforming the existing quota system.

Their statement comes following news that the government’s quota reform committee has recommended the abolition of the quota system from 9th to 13th grades (class I and class II) of public jobs.

"This is certainly a positive move from the government. But we want the false cases that have been filed against us be dropped and people who have attacked us be brought to book," said Hasan Al Mamun, convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhon Parishad (Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council).

"We will take out a procession on the Dhaka University campus at 11:00am on Tuesday, as planned. And our movement will continue," he also said while speaking at a press conference in front of the central library on Monday.

The government committee, which was formed to review the existing quota system in public service, submitted a report in this regard on Monday, said the chief of the committee, cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, at a press conference in Dhaka.

Quoting lawyers, Shafiul Alam said the court verdict against the quota reform will not affect the quota reform or quota elimination process.

On April 11, prime minister Sheikh Hasina declared in parliament that all types of quotas in government jobs would be abolished, following the countrywide protests of the students across the country demanding reforms in the quota system in the public service recruitment process.

The government on 2 July formed the seven-member committee, headed by Shafiul Alam, to review the quota reform process.