ZCZC
BSS-11
QUOTA-COMMITTEE-REPORT
Committee suggests abolition of quota system in government services
DHAKA, Sept 17, 2018 (BSS) – A high level committee constituted to review
the existing quota system in government services today submitted their report to
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suggesting its complete abolition in recruiting
first and second class officers in government services.
“We have submitted our report to the Prime Minister proposing cancellation
of quotas in recruiting officers from 9th grade to 13th grade,” head of the
committee Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told journalists at Bangladesh
Secretariat here.
He said the committee recommended that all recruitment from Grade-9 to
Grade-13 be “completely based on merit” and “no quota for Freedom Fighters and
ethnic minority groups of people should exist either”.
“Now the Public Administration Ministry will submit the report to the
Cabinet after taking the Prime Minister’s approval, and gazette notification in
this regard will be issued thereafter,” he said.
The government on July 2, 2018 constituted the committee against the
backdrop students and jobseekers protests demanding quota system reforms
alleging that the arrangement was depriving brilliant students from getting jobs
in civil services.
The cabinet secretary said the committee sought legal experts’ opinions
about a related court verdict on Freedom Fighter quota but they said the
judgment would have no effect on the proposal as “this is a policy decision of
the government”.
Alam said the committees also examined the needs of quota system for small
ethnic groups and physically challenged persons and came to decision that at
this stage “the quota is not indispensable for them”.
“The article 29 of the Constitution stipulated that the government if it
wants can allow quota for backward people, but it’s not mandatory,” the cabinet
secretary said.
BSS/AKH/AR/1607 HRS