The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Unless corruption and nepotism was not removed from the Public Service Commission (PSC) meritorious students could not get any chance in the civil service whatever the quota system is.

The system has been run without any constitutional base. Speakers said this yesterday at a discussion on 'Rational Rearrangement of the Quota System in the BCS and other Government Jobs' organised by a group of students of the Dhaka University at the National Press Club.

This was the second discussion meeting on this issue organised by the group of students of the Dhaka University who have backtracked from their earlier demand of abolishing the quota system.

The students warned the government to meet their demands otherwise they would go for larger movement, which would be severe than the August movement last year. They hinted further course of action unless their demand was met within the deadline, which will end today.

Former Dhaka University VC Prof Dr Moniruzzaman Mia, former NBR chairman Badiur Rahman, former UGC chairman Dr Asaduzzaman, journalist Sadek Khan, Dhaka University professors Dr Akhtar Hossain Khan, Dr Mozammel haque, Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, Advocate Mahbubur Rahman and several students, among others spoke at the meeting.

Badiur Rahman said, "The quota system does not have any constitutional base. The quota system inflicts corruption". He also said unless the corruption in the PSC was removed meritorious students will not have any chance in the BCS, to whatever extents the quota system was rearranged.

Badiur said, There is no constitutional base for the freedom fighters. They are honoured by the Government with quota. By giving seniority after the Liberation War and by giving their children jobs in the civil services we have benefited them, how far will we benefit them."

Dr Moniruzzaman said, "We are in a competitive world, so we need an efficient public administration and for that we need to rationalise the quota system but it could not be abolished."

Speakers said, after 36 years of our independence there was no need for quota for women, it was only to dishonour them, as they had advanced a lot.

PSC chairman Dr Sadat Hossain, Executive Director of TIB Dr Mojaffar Ahmed, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Jugantor editor Golam Sarwar, Barrister Rafiqul Haque and Manabjamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury were not present at the meeting though they were named in the list to be present at the meeting.