The government has once again reformed the quota system and met the demand of quota reform protesters following the verdict of the Supreme Court Appellate Division.
Under the new rules for recruitment to government jobs, 93% of seats will be reserved for merit, 5% for freedom fighters, Biranganas and their descendants, 1% for minorities and small ethnic groups, and 1% for people with disabilities and persons of the third gender. This will apply for all grades of government jobs.
If there are vacancies left under any of the quotas, they will be filled from the merit list.
The government had wiped out all kinds of quotas in first- and second-class government jobs in the wake of the quota reform movement in 2018. Prior to the abolition, 56% of seats had been reserved under various quotas.
Out of the total, 30% seats were reserved for freedom fighters and their descendants, 10% for backward communities, 5% for minorities and small ethnic groups, and 1% for people with disabilities.
Speaking to journalists, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said: "We have implemented the verdict of the appellate division as per government responsibility. As a result, the demands of protesters have been catered. "
He added that the government has already formed a judicial inquiry committee to identify the perpetrators of the mayhem during the quota reform protests, and will ensure punishment according to the existing laws.
Besides, the government will ensure medical treatment and security for general students and is working on returning educational insinuations to normalcy, he said.
Narrating the events of the quota reform movement, the law minister said: “ Originally, it was anti-quota movement in the name quota reform. After the verdict of 2018, children of freedom fighters filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the abolition of the quota for freedom fighters.
"In the judgment on the writ, the court declared part of the 2018 circular invalid on June 5 this year. This made the protesters again start agitation. Later, the appellate bench upheld the chamber court’s decision on the freedom fighter quota, and that means no quota system in first and second category cadre services job, " he added.
"While the government and all quarters were waiting for full text of verdict, the protesters continued their demonstrations. Miscreants led by BNP-Jamaat took the opportunity to start violence nationwide. They vandalized government establishments and the property of the people," Anisul further said.
He said the government would take action if any violence resurfaces, and the curfew will be withdrawn gradually.
Echoing the law minister, State Minsiter for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Arafat put the blame on BNP-Jamaat for the violence, killing and anarchy.
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain, among others, were present at the press conference.