Photo : Collected
The High Court on Wednesday ordered for retaining 30% freedom fighter quota in government jobs declaring illegal the circular issued on October 4, 2018 cancelling the the quota system.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order.
Senior Advocate Munsurul Haque Chowdhuyr stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Sheikh Mohammad (SK) Saifuzzaman Zaman represented the state.
The government, through the circular On October 4, 2018, said direct recruitment in all government jobs in 9th grade to 13th grade will be completely based on merit, abolishing quota system.
On November 5, 1972, then government through an executive order introduced 30% quota for freedom fighters and 10% for female in the government, semi-government, and defense and nationalised institutions.
Later, the government in different times reformed or changed the quota system.
Until the abolition, about 56 percent of government jobs had been reserved for candidates from various quotas. Of this, 30 percent were for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people of underdeveloped districts, five percent for members of indigenous communities and one percent for physically challenged people.
On June 2, 2018, the government formed a seven-member committee, headed by then cabinet secretary to reform the quota system amid demonstrations by students and job seekers for reforming quota system.
Later, the Public Administration Ministry on October 4, 2018, issued the circular cancelling the quota in direct recruitment process in the 1st class and 2nd class government jobs.
Ohidul Islam Tushar, president of Bangladesh muktijoddha sontan o projonmo kendrio command council, filed a writ petition challenging the government decision,
On December 6, 2021, the High court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the circular should not be declared illegal.
Cabinet secretary, secretary to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, secretary to the Public Administration Ministry, Chairman of Public Service Commission were made respondent to the rule.
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