Bangladesh quota reform movement

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Bangladesh quota reform movement
10.Bangladesh quota reform movement 2024.jpg
A protester carrying slogans in the body written "One point one demand, quota not come back" in the 2024 movement.
Datec. 2013 – present
First phrase:
6 June–18 July 2013
Second phrase:
17 February–18 July 2018
Third phrase:
1 July–present
Location
Bangladesh
Caused by Quota system of Bangladesh Civil Service
GoalsReduction of the amount of quotas
Methods Demonstrations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, online activism, arson, vandalism
Resulted inThe Appellate Division of Supreme Court orders 93% recruitment in government jobs to be based on merit and 5% to be reserved for the children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters and Biranganas , 1% for the ethnic minorities and 1% for the third gender and the disabled people, with the public administration ministry publishing a gazette notification in line with the Supreme Court verdict
Casualties
Death(s) Third phrase: 209+ [1] [2]

The quota reform movement in Bangladesh has been organized to demand reduction of quota in government jobs and recruitment based on merit. [3] [4] [5] Till 2024, there has been a total of three agitations for quota reforms in Bangladesh. So far, the general university and college students are in favor of this movement and the Awami League ruling Bangladesh government, Chhatra League and Awami League like-minded organizations are against. [6] [7]

Contents

The first quota reform movement took place in 2013. Then in 2018, after the movement, a circular was announced in favor of the agitators. But this circular was declared invalid by the Supreme Court and the movement started again in 2024. Every time during the agitation, Bangladesh Police and Chhatra League attacked the students with lethal force. [8] [9] [10]

Background

Quota system was first introduced in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh in government jobs. At that time, 20% of the merit list was allocated, 40% was district-wise, 30% was allotted to family members of freedom fighters who participated in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh, and 10% was allotted to war-affected women. [11] This quota system was changed several times later. [12]

Previously, Bangladesh has more than 55% quota in various government jobs, including 30& freedom fighter quota, 10% district-wise quota, 10% for women and 5% for minorities. [13] [14] However, as per the rules, if there are no qualified candidates in these quotas, 1% is allocated for the disabled. As a result, only 44% of the candidates were able to secure placement on merit. This leads to dissatisfaction among a large section of general students, as they are being deprived of marks in any examination despite scoring more than the under-quota candidates.

According to the information published in Prothom Alo, the number of registered freedom fighters is 200–250 thousands, [15] that is, the number of freedom fighters is 1.2–1.5 per 1,000 people, which accounts 0.12–0.15% of the entire population. That means, for 0.12% freedom fighters, the quota amount is 30%, converting to thousands, it can be seen that the quota amount is 300 for 1% to 1.5% (one and a half) freedom fighters among 1,000 people.[ citation needed ]

Articles 19(1), 29(1) and 29(2) of the Constitution of Bangladesh mention equal opportunities for all citizens in employment.

Movement of 2013

This section is an excerpt from 2013 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[ edit ]
The 2013 Bangladesh Quota Reform Movement was a movement against incumbent government policies regarding jobs in the government sector in the country. The movement began in the same location that saw the 2013 Shahbag protests in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Although initially confined to the locality of Shahbag and Dhaka University campus, it eventually spread to other parts of Bangladesh. It attained popularity as students of different universities in various parts of the country brought out processions of their own while demonstrating in solidarity with the main protest movement and pressing forward with similar demands. [16]

Movement of 2018

This section is an excerpt from 2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[ edit ]
Quota reform protesters at University of Dhaka. Quota reform protest Dhaka 01.jpg
Quota reform protesters at University of Dhaka.
The 2018 Bangladesh Quota Reform Movement was a students' movement demanding reforms in policies regarding recruitment in the Bangladesh government services. Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad (Bangladesh General Students' Right Conservation Council) initiated movement initially began in Shahbag and on Dhaka University campus on 17 February 2018, and eventually spread country-wide by 8 April 2018. [17] The movement rapidly attained popularity among students of different universities and colleges forcing the government to announce changes. [18] [19]

Movement of 2024

This movement was started by ordinary students [20] [21] [22] of government educational institutions all over Bangladesh, but later Notre Dame College, St. Joseph's College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Ideal School and College, Ideal College, Dhaka City College, BAF Shaheen College, Birshrestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Netrokona Govt College, Ananda Mohan College, Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College,Notre Dame College Mymensingh,Prime Asia University, United International University, BRAC University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dania College, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology, Daffodil International University, North South University , American International University-Bangladesh, Independent University, Bangladesh, Eastern University, City University,East West University, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Civil Aviation School and College, Tejgaon,Manarat International University and many other universities started protesting against Chhatra League violence. [23] [24] [25]

Outcome

In the wake of the movement, the Cabinet of the Government of Bangladesh on 3 October 2018, issued a circular dismissing the quota system for recruitment in the ninth to thirteenth grades (formerly known as first and second class jobs). [26] [27] On 30 July 2019, the government said, there is no quota in recruitment in 1st and 2nd class post (9th to 13th grade) at present, the quota for the post of 3rd and 4th class (14th to 20th grade) is still in force, but if no candidate of the relevant quota is found, it has to be filled from the merit list of the general candidate. [28] In addition to clarifying the previous circular on quotas issued on 20 January 2020, the cabinet also approved a proposal provided by the Ministry of Public Administration to cancel quotas on direct appointments to eighth or higher grade posts in government jobs. [29]

On 21 July 2024, the Appellate Division of Supreme Court ordered an overhaul to the quota reservation system. It increased merit appointments in the civil service to 93% and reduced slots allotted for descendants of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to 5%, with the remainder going to ethnic minorities, the disabled and third gender people. [30] [31] [32]

On 23 July 2024, the public administration ministry published a gazette notification [33] [34] in line with the Supreme Court verdict on the quota system in government jobs. [35] [36] [37] Law minister Anisul Huq said the new quota system will be followed while recruiting employees directly in all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, statutory bodies and different corporations. [38] [39] [40]

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References

  1. ↑ "Death toll rises to 209". The Daily Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "Bangladesh protests death toll nears 180, with more than 2,500 people arrested after days of unrest - CBS News". CBS News. 23 July 2024.
  3. ↑ Hasnat, Saif (11 July 2024). "Tens of Thousands of Students Protest Job Quotas in Bangladesh's Streets". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Bangladesh's top court scales back government jobs quota after deadly unrest that has killed scores". Washington Post. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Here's what to know about the violent protests over government jobs roiling Bangladesh". Washington Post. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  6. ↑ Mashal, Mujib. "An Unbending Leader's Crackdown Rains Carnage on Bangladesh". The New York Times.
  7. ↑ দিগন্ত, Daily Nayadiganta-নয়া. "কোটা সংস্কার আন্দোলন : নতুন কর্মসূচি ঘোষণা". Daily Nayadiganta (নয়া দিগন্ত) : Most Popular Bangla Newspaper (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  8. ↑ "ঢামেকের জরুরি বিভাগে ঢুকে শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর ছাত্রলীগের হামলা". ittefaq. 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  9. ↑ "কোটা আন্দোলন: ঢাকার বাইরের ক্যাম্পাসেও ছাত্রলীগের হামলা, মঙ্গলবার বিক্ষোভ ঘোষণা". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  10. ↑ "কোটা আন্দোলন: জাহাঙ্গীরনগরে মধ্যরাত পর্যন্ত সংঘর্ষ ও হামলা, শিক্ষক গুলিবিদ্ধ হওয়ার অভিযোগ". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  11. ↑ "'আপাতত' কোটা সংস্কার নয়". samakal. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  12. ↑ "সরকারি চাকরিতে কোটা সংস্কার সময়ের দাবি – DW – 25.02.2018". Deutsche Welle . 2024-07-17. Archived from the original on 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  13. ↑ "কোটা সংস্কার আন্দোলন ও কর্মসংস্থান". 2018-03-23. Archived from the original on 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  14. ↑ "কোটা সংস্কারের দাবিতে শাহবাগ রণক্ষেত্র". 2018-04-11. Archived from the original on 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  15. ↑ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (2018-03-04). "চাকরিতে কোটা বিরোধিতার যুক্তি". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  16. ↑ "Quota versus merit". 15 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Protests in Bangladesh put an end to a corrupt quota system". The Economist. 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  18. ↑ "History of the quota system in Bangladesh". The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . 10 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "Protests in Bangladesh put an end to a corrupt quota system". The Economist.
  20. ↑ Das, Anupreeta; Hasnat, Saif. "Bangladesh Scales Back Policy on Public-Sector Hiring That Sparked Unrest". The New York Times.
  21. ↑ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (2018-03-04). "চাকরিতে কোটা বিরোধিতার যুক্তি". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  22. ↑ Das, Anupreeta. "Behind Bangladesh Protests, Rage over Inequality". The New York Times.
  23. ↑ Channel24. "রাজধানীর বিভিন্ন সড়ক অবরোধ করে শিক্ষার্থীদের বিক্ষোভ". Channel 24. Retrieved 2024-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "রাজধানীর সড়কে সড়কে আন্দোলনে শিক্ষার্থীরা, বাড্ডায় সংঘর্ষ". 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  25. ↑ "এবার রাস্তায় নামলো বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থীরা". 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  26. ↑ বাংলাদেশের সরকারি চাকরিতে কোটা ব্যবস্থা বাতিল নিয়ে সর্বশেষ পাঁচটি তথ্য (The latest five facts about the abolition of quota system in government service in Bangladesh). BBC Bangla (in Bengali). 4 October 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Completely on merit". The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024.
  28. ↑ চাকরিতে কোটা নিয়ে বিভ্রান্তি দূর করল সরকার (The government removed the confusion about job quotas). Daily Jugantor (in Bengali). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  29. ↑ চাকরিতে অষ্টম গ্রেড বা ওপরের পদেও কোটা থাকবে না (There will be no quota in the job for eighth grade or above also). Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 20 January 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "Bangladesh's top court rolls back some job quotas after deadly protests".
  31. ↑ "Bangladesh's top court scales back 'discriminatory' job quota system after deadly protests".
  32. ↑ "Bangladesh Protests: Bangladesh's Supreme Court scraps most job quotas that triggered deadly protests". The Hindu.
  33. ↑ "নং-০৫.০০.০০০০.১৭০.১১.০১৪.২৪-১৪১।--সরকারি, আধাসরকারি, স্বায়ত্তশাসিত/আধা-স্বায়ত্তশাসিত প্রতিষ্ঠান, স্ব-শাসিত ও সংবিধিবদ্ধ কর্তৃপক্ষের এবং বিভিন্ন কর্পোরেশনের চাকুরিতে/কর্মে সরাসরি নিয়োগের ক্ষেত্রে সরকারের বিদ্যমান কোটা পদ্ধতি সংশোধন". www.dpp.gov.bd (in Bengali). Bangladesh Government Press. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  34. ↑ "সরকারি, আধাসরকারি, স্বায়ত্তশাসিত/আধা-স্বায়ত্তশাসিত প্রতিষ্ঠান, স্ব-শাসিত ও সংবিধিবদ্ধ কর্তৃপক্ষের এবং বিভিন্ন কর্পোরেশনের চাকুরিতে/কর্মে সরাসরি নিয়োগের ক্ষেত্রে সরকারের বিদ্যমান কোটা পদ্ধতি সংশোধন" (PDF) (in Bengali). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2024.
  35. ↑ "Govt issues circular cutting all job quotas to 7 per cent".
  36. ↑ "Govt issues notification on reformed quota system in public service | News".
  37. ↑ Correspondent, Staff (24 July 2024). "Quota in govt jobs: New system applicable for all grades". The Daily Star. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  38. ↑ "Govt issues notification on reformed quota system in public service". July 2024.
  39. ↑ "Law Minister: Notification on reformed quota system issued following apex court verdict". Dhaka Tribune . 24 July 2024.
  40. ↑ "Gazette notification issued prioritizing merit in govt jobs". United News of Bangladesh . Retrieved 24 July 2024.
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