Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) formed a human chain to express solidarity with protestors demanding the maintenance of the government circular on quota reform and merit-based recruitment.
The human chain was formed in front of the Central Shaheed Minar of Buet at 12:15pm on Tuesday.
The students highlighted the High Court ruling on June 5 that declared the Ministry of Public Administration's 2018 quota cancellation circular illegal, which has caused uncertainty about future government employment among talented students across the country.
Explaining their stance, Buet students recalled that after the Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman arranged a 30% quota for war-affected families and a 10% quota for women. This decision was timely and necessary due to the sacrifices and struggles faced by these groups. However, they argued that the situation has changed.
Most freedom fighter families are now living prosperous lives. Their grandchildren do not face the same backwardness. Therefore, it is mandatory to reform the freedom fighter quota system, they said.
They also noted the progress made in women's education and self-esteem, with the country's literacy rate at 76.8% and girls' literacy at 73%.
Maintaining a 10% female quota is disrespectful to self-respecting women. Even women among us do not want this special quota. So, the women quota should also be reformed, they added.
Criticizing the district quota as outdated, they pointed out that improved communication systems, including the Padma Bridge and Jamuna Bridge, have connected remote districts to the rest of the country.
There is no such thing as a remote district anymore. Keeping a 10% district quota is baseless, they said.
The Buet students argued that if there are no suitable or qualified candidates in various quotas, recruitment should be based on merit.
The protesters emphasized the country's progress towards building a smart, modern Bangladesh, where talents are proving their abilities on the international stage.
The talents of the country will be the backbone of the future of Bangladesh. That is why it is desirable to maintain the full scope of merit, they asserted.
The students concluded by stating that the nationwide movement for quota reforms is logical, and Buet students are expressing solidarity with this cause. They urged the court to prioritize the evaluation of merit and deliver a speedy verdict in favour of the students' demands.