The controversy over quotas, which also includes reservations for descendants of 1971 freedom fighters, has ignited widespread debate about fairness and equality in job opportunities.
Tensions escalated in Dhaka today as student protestors demanding reforms to the public service quota system marched towards Bangabhaban, the President’s residence. Ten representatives are set to present a memorandum, seeking changes to the system which reserves over 50 per cent of government jobs.
The protests, spearheaded by students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, and Dhaka College, intensified following a recent court ruling reinstating quotas for civil service positions, which were previously abolished in 2018 amidst widespread student protests.
According to local media reports, the demonstrators gathered at Zero Point after marching from Dhaka University, voicing demands that included the withdrawal of a case they termed ‘false and fabricated’. They have issued a 24-hour ultimatum in this regard.
“These quotas are outdated and unfair,” remarked leaders of the student movement against discrimination. “They no longer serve the interests of today’s youth striving for merit-based opportunities.”
The protests have led to significant disruptions across Dhaka, with blockades affecting major intersections and entry points, aggravating traffic congestion and impacting daily commutes, including the metro rail service.
The controversy over quotas, which also includes reservations for descendants of 1971 freedom fighters, has ignited widespread debate about fairness and equality in job opportunities.
In an editorial, The Financial Express newspaper highlighted the grim employment scenario in Bangladesh, citing high unemployment rates among educated youth and the recent controversy over job qualifications at Bangladesh Railway.
The situation remains tense as protestors await responses from authorities amid a backdrop of mounting public pressure for reform
Image: Wikimedia/Nahid Sultan
