The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University students demanded a rational rearrangement of the quota system in all government services including Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) instead of the existing 55 per cent quota before the upcoming 28th BCS examination.

Students' Movement against oppression, a platform of DU students supported by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), placed the demand at a press conference at the university's Madhu's canteen on Saturday.

"We want a solution to the existing anomaly in the quota system immediately for proper evaluation of the meritorious students alongside showing respect to the freedom fighters by preserving a rational number of posts for their children in government services", Khomeni Ihsan, convener of the student body, said.

In reality, only six to eight out of 30 per cent quota for the children of freedom fighters and one out of five per cent for the tribal had been filled up during the previous BCS exams. But how the remaining seats of these two quotas had been filled up, was not been clear, they said.

They said the existing quota system, that undermines the meritorious students to enter various vital posts of the state, could not continue for long as the entire teacher community, members of civil society and even the chairman of Public Service Commission of the country seek reform to the system.

They also demanded withdrawal of state of emergency before February 21 to make the wheel of the country's economy dynamic, restore the fundamental rights to the people and keep the judiciary from any interference.

After the press conference, over five hundred students brought out a procession on the campus to drum up support for their demands.