The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Students of Dhaka University agitating against the quota system in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) at a press conference yesterday urged the government to resolve the issue forthwith.

They said the government should follow the proposal of 'Samikhkha' Report coordinated by former Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan but they rejected the proposal of 50 per cent merit competition that was put forward at a seminar held earlier in the city.

The demonstrating students urged the authorities to consider their demand by April 10 or face a tough movement.

"If our demand is not met within the stipulated time, we will launch movement against PSC Chairman Dr Sadat Hossain demanding his resignation," said KM Selim, the convener of the platform at the office of Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA) yesterday.

The students said if the majority of appointment is made under the quota system, the majority of talented candidates would be deprived of getting a chance in the civil service resulting in an intellectual vacancy in the administration.

"Though the teachers, students as well as intellectuals are now convinced to reduce the quota to a rational level, the PSC Chairman is not paying any heed to this demand. But we postponed our street agitating after getting assurance from the government," they said.

The Dhaka University students under the banner 'general students' have been demonstrating on the campus for some days demanding rationalisation of the BCS quota system.

In the BCS examination, total 55 per cent appointment is made under four quotas including freedom fighters quota (30 per cent), women quota and district quota (10 per cent each) and indigenous quota (five per cent).