FF quota seekers block highways for 30% quota

Freedom fighters’ quota seekers blockaded two major highways Dhaka-Archia and Chattogram-Khhagrachhari this afternoon, as part of a countrywide demonstration demanding reinstatement of the 30 percent quota for them in government jobs.

The protesters demanding reinstatement of the quota for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren in class-I and class-II government jobs yesterday called an indefinite blockade for today.

At a rally at Shahbagh intersection yesterday, Prof AKM Jamal Uddin, spokesperson for the platform Muktijuddho Moncho, made the announcement the blockade of highways, railways, and waterways across the country.

In Jahangirnagar University, some 25 students under the banner of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command, an organisation of the children of freedom fighters, blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of the university around 12:45pm. 

In Chattogram, some 60-70 students of Chittagong University blocked the Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway in front of the university gate No-1 around 1:00pm, demanding the same issue.

The agitating students under banner of Muktijoddho Moncho also staged demonstration by torching tyre on the highway. 

Physically challenged students want 5% quota
On the other hand, a group of 40-50 physically challenged students of Chittagong University and other universities of the port city blocked Soloshohor, one of the busy roads in the city, around 12:30pm, demanding the preservation of five percent quota in the government jobs.

In Rajshahi University, around 25 physically challenged students under the banner "Bangladesh Protibondhi Shikkharthi Oikya Parishad’ staged sit-in before the university main gate around 12:00pm, demanding 5% quota in class-l and Class-ll.

They also blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway, halting vehicular movement on the highway.

Before the present quota system which was reviewed by the government recently, the physically challenged candidates enjoyed one per cent quota.

On October 4, the government issued a circular abolishing the quota system for class-I and class-II jobs in the civil service amid demonstrations for reinstating quota for the freedom fighters' descendants and indigenous communities.

According to the circular, the recruitment from grade-9 (class-I) and grade-10 to 13 (class-II) at all government departments, autonomous or semi-autonomous institutions, and various corporations will be based solely on merit.

Until the abolition, about 56 per cent of government jobs had been reserved for candidates from various quotas. Of this, 30 per cent were for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for people of underdeveloped districts, five per cent for members of indigenous communities.

Source: thedailystar