Rajshahi University students block rail line demanding quota system reforms

Students from Rajshahi University have blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi rail line as part of the ‘Bangla Blockade’ programme demanding that the 2018 notification scrapping the quota system for public sector jobs be reinstated.

The protesters formed a human chain at Paris Road adjacent to the city’s Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Senate Building at 11am on Monday. Later, they brought out a procession marching through the university’s Paschim Para and took up positions on the Dhaka-Rajshahi rail line next to Meherchandi via Tutbagan, reports bdnews24.com.

The protesters chanted slogans protesting the High Court’s decision, saying that public sector recruitment should be based on merit not quotas.

Around 600 students of the university took part in the blockade programme to press home their four-point list of demands, including the reforms in the quota system.

The first demand is the abolition of the quota system in government jobs - which was announced in 2018 after intense protests - and the retention of merit-based recruitment circulars.

The second demand is the swift formation of a commission to eliminate “unreasonable and discriminatory” quotas in all grades of government jobs, ensuring that only marginalised groups are considered for quotas as per the Constitution.

The third demand says the quota facility cannot be used more than once in government job recruitment exams, and any vacant positions previously reserved under a quota should be filled on the basis of merit.

The fourth seeks effective measures to ensure a corruption-free, impartial, and merit-based bureaucracy.

Fatema Tuz Zohra, an anthropology student of the 2018-19 academic year, said during the protest: “Article 28 of the Constitution states the special benefits for underprivileged groups but it does not refer to freedom fighters a single time. Considering them as an underprivileged group will tarnish their image further.”

“Furthermore, the context in which the freedom fighters were given the facilities was either interim or temporary. But today it has become permanent, causing discrimination. We demand the immediate reform of this system.”

Philosophy student Fuad Ratul said, “In a country where 56 people out of 100 get quota opportunities in government jobs, there can be no assessment based on merit. As a result, a nation without merit is being developed and everyone is turning away from the country.”

“We want our just rights and a merit-based system. Let this discriminatory quota system be reformed as soon as possible.”

On Oct 4, 2018, in the face of a student movement, the government issued a circular cancelling the 10 percent quota for women, the 30 percent quota for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters and the 10 percent district quota for government jobs.

According to the circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, the existing quota system for direct recruitment to the posts of ninth grade (previously first class) and 10^th to 13^th grades (previously second class) was scrapped in favour of a merit-based system.

However, the circular stated that though the quota system for first and second-class jobs was abolished, the quotas will remain in place for third and fourth-class posts.

Seven people, including Wahidul Islam – the son of a freedom fighter - filed a writ petition in the High Court in 2021 challenging the validity of that circular.

After the final hearing, the High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat declared the decision to scrap the quota system illegal. The state applied to the Appellate Division to suspend the decision.

As a result, the notification repealing the freedom fighter quota system for recruitment to government, autonomous, semi-autonomous institutions, and corporation positions became illegal.

The students and job-seekers resumed their protest demanding the 2018 notice be reinstated since then.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the hearing of the appeal made by the state seeking a stay on the High Court verdict declaring the decision of repealing the freedom fighter quota system in first and second-class government jobs was adjourned. A six-member bench headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan adjourned the hearing upon the writ petitioner’s request for time.