Demo again demanding quota system reform

Over 1,000 jobseekers on Sunday morning staged demonstration at Shahbagh intersection in the city demanding reforms of quota system in government recruitment exams by 13 March.

Several hundred students from Dhaka University and other institutions, under separate banners, including Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Sangrokkhon Mancha, General Students’ Rights Protection Council took position on the road stretching from Shahbagh intersection to the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the DU around 11:00am.

The demonstrators were seen carrying placards showing their five-point demand.

The demands are: fixation of 10 per cent quota instead of existing 56 per cent, filling vacant posts from merit list if the candidates from quota are not found, no special exam for quota-benefit holders, introduction of unified age limit for applying in government jobs, and bar quota-holders from taking the benefit of quota more than once.

The demonstrators also warned they will lay siege to the deputy commissioners’ offices across the country and the public administration ministry on 14 March if their demand is not met by 13 March.

Huge law enforcers were deployed in the area during the demonstration.

Earlier on 25 February, the job seekers staged demonstrations demanding the same. They also said they would stage demonstration on 4 March if their demands are not met by 3 March.