DHAKA, April 9, 2018 (BSS) – The cabinet during its weekly meeting today discussed the existing quota system in the civil service and noted that the system has hardly deprived the meritorious candidates as merit was never ignored in the existing system.
The cabinet meeting was held at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
However, Ministry of Public Administration, as the main stakeholder of the issue, would examine the demands of the students, Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam said this while briefing reporters on the decisions at the secretariat here today.
Cabinet secretary said the cabinet examined the recruitment system in the last three civil service examinations as well as the revised policy of the present government for fulfilling the vacancies of different quotas from the merit list.
According to the existing system 45 percent posts of civil service is reserved for meritorious candidates, 30 percent for Freedom Fighters (FF), 10 percent for women, 5 percent for small indigenous groups, 10 percent for districts (in some cases) and one percent for physically challenged persons (in some cases).
However, in the 33rd BCS around 77.40 percent posts were filled up from merit quota, while 67.49 percent and 70.38 percent posts were filled from the merit list in the 35th and 36th BCS respectively, he said.
“In fact the quota system has created no problem for hunting talents,” the cabinet secretary said adding that posts of all quotas are filled up by the most meritorious candidates, who secured top positions in the list. It’s also applicable for district quota, he added.
All posts under the FF quota cannot be filled up due to shortage of the number of competent children of Freedom Fighters. So their posts are being filled from the merit list, Shafiul Alam said.
Terming the quota system a constitutional provision, he said the quota system has been incorporated in the constitution to support the people of disadvantageous groups.
“If the recruitment in the civil service is held on the basis of merit only, many districts would be underrepresented in the administration and uplift of women would be hampered.
Not all children of Freedom Fighters, but only those who are showing their talent in the competition, are getting chance in the BCS, he said.
About the agitation of student group to press home their demand for reformation of the quota system, the cabinet secretary said the reform has already been done which created ample opportunities for meritorious candidates to be recruited in the posts of reserve quotas.