The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

The agitating students of Dhaka University demanding cancellation of quota system in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) on Sunday urged the government to meet their demands by February 14 or face a tougher movement.

They made the demand at a rally at Aparajeyo Bangla in the morning. The students also submitted separate memorandum to the President, the Chief Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chairman of Public Service Commission (PSC) to press home their demand.

Earlier, at least one thousand students brought out a procession, which paraded the campus streets. The police barred the procession at Shahbag crossing when it was marching towards the PSC to submit the memorandum to the PSC Chairman.

Later, the students held a rally on the campus where former Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof M Asaduzzaman expressed his solidarity with the students.

"Recruitment through the quota system is producing some less meritorious and incapable administrators in different governmental sectors," Prof Asaduzzaman said while addressing the rally.

In BCS examinations, 55 per cent appointment is made under the quota system and rest 45 per cent on merit basis. The quotas are: freedom fighters, women, district and indigenous quotas.

However, 'Muktijuddha Prajanma', a platform of the DU students, alleged a certain quarter want to destroy the spirit of the liberation war.

"The student community will not accept any such movement which dishonours the great achievement of 1971 in the name of ejecting quota system from BCS examinations," they said at a press conference at noon.