In 2018, amid protests by job-seeking students, the government scrapped all quota facilities for first-class and second-class government jobs, beginning with the 40th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exams. Since then, there have been no quota facilities applicable in the recruitment process for top-grade public services in Bangladesh.
Now, in 2024, students are again protesting, demanding the removal of quotas from all grades of public services, thus giving rise to tension across the country.
This raises the question: how many applicants secured jobs through quotas, and how many were appointed on the basis of merit? What is the process for selecting students based on quotas and merit, and how does it work in the recruitment process for government jobs?
How many quotas are in govt jobs?
The quota system was introduced in Bangladesh through an executive order in 1972 and underwent several amendments.
Before the 2018 circular, 56% of government jobs were reserved for various quotas: 30% for families of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for people from underdeveloped districts, 5% for indigenous communities, and 1% for persons with disabilities.
Earlier, in 1996, as the number of freedom fighters' quota claimants dwindled, the government extended the quota to include children of freedom fighters and in 2009, it was further expanded to include grandchildren of freedom fighters.
The current quota reform movement began after the High Court ruled on June 5 that the 2018 government circular abolishing the quota system was illegal, effectively reinstating the quota system.
The government appealed the decision, and the Appellate Division has issued a status quo on the High Court order.
Following the High Court order, students once again took to the streets, protesting across the country and demanding reform of the quota system.
Quota vs merit in BCS jobs?
Since the 40th BCS exam, there has been no quota. Analysis of the results of the previous five BCS exams reveals that merit has been dominant over quotas in the public service recruitment process.
The Public Service Commission (PSC), the regulatory authority for BCS exams, recommended 2,181 applicants for jobs in the 35th BCS exam. Among them, 1,472 received recommendations based on merit, and 709 were recommended based on quota.
According to PSC data, 67.5% of recommendations in this exam were based on merit, while 32.5% were based on quota.
In the 36th BCS, among the 2,323 recommended candidates, 1,520 were recommended based on merit, and 803 were recommended based on quota, which means 65.43% were from merit and 34.57% from quota.
In the 37th BCS, among the 1,313 recommended candidates, 64.28% were based on merit, and 35.72% were recommended based on quota.
In the 38th BCS, among the 2,204 recommended candidates, 64.56% received recommendations based on merit, and 35.44% were based on quota.
In the 39th BCS special exam, which was dedicated to medical students, among the 4,559 recommended candidates, 67.12% were based on merit, and 32.88% were based on quota.
What is the status of the freedom fighter quota?
According to the result sheets of the PSC, in the 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, and 39th BCS exams, 198, 209, 134, 226, and 531 candidates, in that order, received recommendations under the freedom fighter quota.
Although there was a 30% quota for freedom fighters and their dependents, in most cases, only about 10% of applicants received recommendations under this quota.
Specifically, in the 35th BCS, 9% of candidates received government job recommendations under the freedom fighter quota; in the 36th BCS, it was 8.99%; in the 37th BCS, 10.20%; in the 38th BCS, 10.25%; and in the 39th BCS, 7.81%.
Merit and quota: How does the recruitment process work?
In the case of the BCS examination, the PSC first divides the vacancies into two categories: merit and quota.
Assuming there are 100 vacancies in the admin or police cadre, the PSC first recruits 45 candidates based on their merit. Then it recruits 55 candidates based on various quotas. When there are not enough eligible applicants from the quota, the PSC again recruits from the merit list to fill the vacancies.
While speaking to Dhaka Tribune, some former members of the PSC stated that coming from a quota does not mean a candidate is not meritorious. Every candidate must first pass the preliminary and written tests. It is only at the final viva stage that quota and merit considerations come into play. Until then, all applicants are treated equally.
Previously, several government job posts were left vacant due to a shortage of candidates eligible under quota facilities. However, this is no longer the case, which is why merit now dominates the government job recruitment process, according to the former PSC members.