-Students' ultimatum to remove quota
-The High Court's judgment is upheld in the chamber
The students of Dhaka University (DU) again staged a protest march and rally against the High Court's verdict on the reinstatement of quota in first and second-class government jobs.
A huge protest procession started in front of the central library of the university yesterday at 11 o'clock. The procession passed through Kalabhavan, Mall Chattar, VC Chattar, and TSC and circumambulated various roads of the campus to meet at the foot of the anti-terrorist Raju sculpture.
During this, the students chanted slogans "Mutki Juddher Mulkotha, Samota Samota", "Songbidhaner Mulkotha, Samota Samota", "Shara Banglay Khobor De, Quota Prothar Kobor De", "Atharor Hatia, Gorje Uthuk Arekbar", "Jegechere Jegeche, Chhatro". Somaz Jegeche', 'Legechere Legeche, Rokte Agun Legeche', 'Quota Protha, Batil Chai Batil Chai', 'Kotha Prothar Biruddhe, Direct Action', 'Quota na Medha, Medha Medha', 'Aposh na Songram, Songram Songram', 'Muktijuddher Banglay, Boishommer Thainai', etc.
Fahim, a student of the English Department, said, "In 2018, we won by protesting against the quota. The Prime Minister abolished the first and second-class quota in Parliament. But the recent decision of the High Court has shattered the dreams of the students. The dream of building a country based on merit has been shattered. Equality and social justice are broken. The equality that was built through the Liberation War of 1971 has been broken.
Rifat Rashid, a student of the International Relations department, said, "Our constitution has said about ensuring equality in government jobs. But today the talented are being neglected through quotas. Every time these students have taken to the streets to demand a demand, they have left the streets only after the demand has been met. This time again, we are on the streets against the restoration of quota. If the decision to reinstate this discriminatory quota is not revoked, the students will not leave the streets. If necessary, blood will be spilled, and dead bodies will fall on the streets, but we will fulfill this demand and leave, Insha'Allah.
Tamanna Akter, a DU student, said, "While the Prime Minister spoke against the quota in the Parliament and announced the abolition of the quota system, the High Court insulted our talent and crushed it under its feet by bringing back the quota." I say as a woman, I don't want any quota. We want to build a smart country through talent. Give the country to talented people, these talented people will make the country a developed country.
After the rally, a group of students went to the High Court to submit a written memorandum to the Attorney General. At that time, the students announced continuous agitation if the demands are not accepted by June 30.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Judge Court has upheld the High Court's ruling that the circular issued by canceling the freedom fighter quota in the first and second-class government jobs is illegal. However, the court fixed July 4 as the next date for the hearing in the regular and full bench of the Appellate Division.
Appellate Division Chamber Justice M Enayetur Rahim yesterday ordered the hearing of the appeal filed by the state seeking a stay of the High Court verdict. As a result, the order to reinstate the freedom fighter quota has been upheld for the time being, the lawyers said.
On June 5, the High Court ruled that the circular issued on October 4, 2018, canceling the quota of freedom fighters in the first and second-class government jobs, was declared 'invalid'. Later, the state filed an appeal seeking suspension of the High Court's verdict. This application was filed in the relevant branch of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday morning. The Chamber Court upheld the order of the High Court after hearing it. As a result, the quota of 30 percent freedom fighters in government jobs will be maintained.
The High Court had issued a ruling seeking to know why the circular issued on October 4, 2018, to cancel the quota of freedom fighters in government jobs should not be declared invalid. The Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, and Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) were asked to respond to this rule within seven days. On December 6, 2021, Justice Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kamrul Hossain Mola of the High Court heard the writ. The constituted bench issued the rule.
The circular was issued on October 4, 2018, canceling the women's quota of 10 percent, the freedom fighter quota of 30 percent, and the district quota of 10 percent.
The writ petitioners then stated that the 30 percent quota for freedom fighters had been abolished in Grades 9 (formerly Class I) and Grades 10 to 13 (formerly Class II) and placed in Grades 14 to 20 (Classes III and IV), which would discredit the valiant freedom fighters and their successors to the Republic.
A circular was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration's Rule-1 branch on October 4, 2018, canceling the quota of freedom fighters in direct recruitment from grade 9 and grade 10 to 13.
It was said there, in the case of direct recruitment to the posts of 9th grade (formerly 1st grade) and 10th-13th grade (formerly 2nd grade), the appointment should be made based on merit list. The existing quota system for direct recruitment to those posts has been abolished.
Challenging the circular, Muktijoddhar Sontan a Projonmo Central Command Council President Ahidul Islam Tushar filed a writ in the High Court. After hearing the writ, the court issued a ruling asking why the quota cancellation circular should not be declared invalid.
Meanwhile, the 56 percent quota for the first and second-class posts was canceled in the cabinet meeting on October 3, 2018, amid the students' movement to cancel the quota in government jobs. However, the government maintained the quota system in the third and fourth classes.
ZH
