End quota system in public service: RU students

Several hundred students of Rajshahi University (RU) staged a demonstration on the campus on Monday, demanding revision of the quota system in public service and promotion of meritocracy.

The demonstrators also demanded bringing down the percentage of government jobs under quota to hardly 10 from the existing rate of 56 per cent.

The students under the banner "General Students" formed a human chain in front of the university’s central library to raise their six points of demand.

Their demands include recruitment of candidates on merit basis in the vacant posts if enough candidates are not found against quota, cancellation of the quota facility more than one job, cancellation of special recruitment test for quota candidates and fixation of a common age-limit for all in the job market.

Addressing the rally, the agitating students said there should be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the Republic as per the constitution.

Due to the current quota system, many meritorious students are not getting jobs and a result rate of unemployment increase, they said.

The merit of the students is not being evaluated because of the quota system, they alleged.

They announced to hold the same programme on Tuesday at the same venue.

Earlier on Saturday, several hundreds of present and former students of Dhaka University staged demonstrations under the banner of "General Students' Right Protection Council (Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Sangrokkon Parishad)" at the foot of Raju memorial sculpture at the university demanding revision of quota system in government jobs.

They also called a grand demonstration rally programme at all higher educational institutions across the country on 22 February.