Two days after violent protests demanding cancellation of the quota provision in public service recruitment, two organisations on Friday demanded continuation of quota for freedom fighters.
Leaders of two pro-liberation organisations urged the youths, who demonstrated for cancellation of the quota, to not fall in the trap of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, opposing the quota for the children of valiant sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives in the 1971 Liberation War.
Amra Muktijoddhar Shontan (We are children of freedom fighters) and Muktijoddha Sangshad Shontan Command formed a human chain against the “conspiracy to abolish the quota system” in front of Jatiya Press Club around 11am.
From the human chain, Humayun Kabir, president of Amra Muktijoddhar Shontan, said at first they did not understand the inner meaning of the movement.
“As they [demonstrators] resorted to destruction [on Thursday], it has become clear to us that the demand for reviewing the results of the 34th BCS examinations covers another issue – a movement against the freedom fighters,” he said.
“We will also take to the streets to prevent any move against the valiant sons of the soil,” he added.
The two organisations will announce their next course of action after discussions, Humayun said.
The speakers said the children of freedom fighters started getting jobs under the quota from 1996. After the four-party alliance came to the power in 2001, they unofficially scrapped the quota provision for the freedom fighters’ children.
During the army-backed government, some students took to the street demanding cancelation of the quota for freedom fighters’ children. But they retreated following protests.
At least 30 people were injured as the protesters clashed with police on Thursday at Shahbagh and Dhaka University areas.
Jamaat demands quota cancellation
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami last night condemned the attacks on the demonstrating BCS candidates and demanded cancellation of quota system in government jobs.
In a statement issued last night, the party’s acting secretary general said the imposition of quota was aimed at politicising the administration.
The quota system forced the deprived candidates to take to the street, he said, condemning the attacks by police and activists of Chhatra League on the demonstrators.