QUOTA REFORM Govt staging drama over publishing gazette

Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, a platform of students protesting at quota system in government jobs, on Tuesday announced that they would form human chains at colleges and universities across the country today, demanding immediate publication of gazette abolishing the controversial quota system as assured by the prime minister. 
The protesters alleged that the government was ‘staging a drama’ in the name of issuing a gazette notification on abolition of quota in the civil service.
Nurul Haque Nur, joint-convener of the platform, came up with the announcement of fresh programme at a press briefing in front of the central library of Dhaka University. 
While addressing the press briefing, Nur said that earlier they postponed their protests after Awami League lawmaker Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Obaidul Quader assured them that the government would publish the gazette notification after the return of the prime minister.
Nur lamented that though already twenty seven days elapsed after prime minister’s declaration at the national parliament regarding abolition of quota system in civil service, there was no visible development which caused frustration among general students.
He also threatened that their platform would wage tougher movement with students across the country if the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to their demand within the shortest possible time.
In the face of protests by students across the country, prime minister Sheikh Hasina announced in parliament on April 11 that the quota system in government jobs would be abolished.
Asked whether there was any headway in the issuance of the gazette notification, cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Monday said that there was no progress. He said he did not get any instruction over the matter as yet. 
Another joint-convener of the platform Rashed Khan said that now new drama unfolded over publishing the much awaited gazette and vested quarters were hatching conspiracy labelling the movement as anti-government movement but students would not step back from their justified demands.
Echoing Nur, Rashed also sought the prime minister’s intervention in publishing the gazette notification immediately to pacify the agitating students otherwise students would once again take to the streets.
He also demanded withdrawal of cases as at least five cases were filed against unnamed people with Shahbagh police and Ramna police for violence and vandalising the Dhaka University vice-chancellor’s house on the campus during the agitation against the quota system.
Earlier on April 26, the protesters warned that they would resume agitation if a gazette notification was not published by April.
The protesters took to the streets on April 8 and continued the protests for five-point demands, including reduction of quota in public service recruitment to 10 per cent from the existing 56 per cent.
Students were on the street as 56 per cent quotas are reserved in government jobs – 30 per cent for freedom fighters’ children and grandchildren, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for districts lagging behind, 5 per cent for ethnic minorities and 1 per cent for physically challenged people.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net