Children of FF demonstrate at Shahbagh over quota abolishment
Children of freedom fighters on Wednesday night blocked Shahbagh intersection in the city demanding that the government retain the 30 per cent quota privileges for them in government jobs, reports UNB.
Around 150-170 people under the banner of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command, a platform of freedom fighters' children, blocked the intersection around 9:00pm.
The demonstration came hours after the cabinet approved a proposal for abolishing the existing quota system in the recruitment process of first and second class government jobs.
The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the prime minister's office with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"Now, the recruitment to the first and second class jobs (from grade-9 to grade-13) will be made directly on merit basis," cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said while briefing reporters at the secretariat.
Addressing the blockade programme, command central president Sheikh Atiqul Babu said, "Freedom fighters have been defamed and disgraced with the cabinet decision. Their constructional rights have also been violated."
Condemning the decision, he urged the the government to retain the 30 per cent quota for the family members of the freedom fighters. "Or else, we'll go for a tougher movement."
He announced that they would hold a protest programme in the city at 3:00pm on Saturday where children and grandchildren of freedom fighters from across the country will take part.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra League general secretary Golam Rabbani expressed solidarity with freedom fighters' children. He went to the protesters around 11:00pm and expressed his solidarity with them.
The vehicular movement remained suspended due to the road blockade which continued till filling of this report around 11:45pm.
Children of freedom fighters also staged demonstrations blocking Rajshahi-Dhaka highway in front of Rajshahi University under Matihar police station in the city to press for the demand.