An angry Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suggested abolishing the quota system for government jobs altogether if it stirs such widespread protests.
Students and job-seekers have been demonstrating on the streets demanding reforms to the quota system that entered the fourth day on Wednesday and brought key roads in Dhaka to a standstill.
Hasina addressed the issue in parliament and said the protests were irrational after the government had already made assurances regarding the demonstrators’ demands.
A delegation of the protesters met Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday to discuss their demands and had postponed the protests until May 7.
But another faction refused to pause their programmes until there was specific announcements from the prime minister and reversed the decision to halt the protest on Monday.
“They have protested enough,” Hasina said. “Let them go home.”
She questioned the rational of the students and job-seekers continuing with the demonstrations even though the government promised to examine the quota system and give a decision in the wake of their demands.
She also condemned the attack on the Dhaka University vice chancellor’s residence and said those who masterminded and perpetrated the assault would be punished accordingly.
“We must have justice for this vandalism and looting. We will find out those who were involved and the students must help us do so.”
After Hasina commented on the issue, Nurul Haque Nur, a joint convenor of the students’ rights platform to organise the protests, said they would give their decision on Thursday after analysing her comments.
In Bangladesh, 30 percent government jobs are reserved for freedom fighters’ families, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for backward districts, 5 percent for small ethnic groups and 1 percent for people with disabilities.
That takes the quota jobs to a total of 56 percent, and it means those not eligible for quotas need to fight for the remaining 44 percent civil service jobs.
The Council to Protect Students’ Rights demands the quota system reforms by bringing down quotas altogether to 10 percent and filling up vacant quota posts by candidates from the merit list.
Hasina said the protesters and the teachers who supported the cause were ‘ignorant’ of the facts.
“Their charter of demand is not clear. Don’t they know the government was already filling up vacant quota posts with candidates from the merit list?” she wondered, referring to the circular clarifying changes to the quota system.
“Our Minister Obaidul Quader sat with them. I asked the cabinet secretary to examine the system and check what we can do about the protesters’ demand.
“Many accepted it, many others did not. Why did they stay at the TSC overnight? Why? Can there be any rationality in this movement after this?” she asked.
She criticised the protesters for creating public sufferings. “And what the demonstrations were – stopping studies and taking to the street. People could not even go to hospitals.”
“How did the girls get out in the small hours? I couldn’t even sleep that night. I sent (Awami League leader Jahangir Kabir Nanak) there,” she said.
At this stage of her speech, the prime minister's voice strained with anger.
“Alright then. There won’t be any quotas. There is no need for quotas. They will take BCS exams and get jobs on their merit,” she said.
She referred to the quota system going through reforms at different times and added, “Reforms will be needed if quotas exist. There will be no question of reforming the system if there is no quota. Protests will lead to lost time.”
In a recent programme in Chattogram after the protests started, Hasina said freedom fighter quota in government jobs would stay.
“Their (freedom fighters) privilege comes first as Bangladesh became independent because of them. Freedom fighters’ children and grandchildren must get the facilities first. That’s why the quota system was introduced,” she had clarified.
On Wednesday, she again explained why there should be quotas. “The quota system is for the advancement of the people lagging behind.”
The prime minister also said there were still scopes of reforming the system and retaining some of the quotas.
“The cabinet secretary will look into the issue, if necessary."
She condemned the attack on Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman’s house amid the protests early in the morning on Monday.
“The attack on the VC’s house was the worst part. The photos reminded me of our house on the road no. 32 (in Dhanmondi). The VC’s house was ransacked. The CCTV cameras were not spared, which means it was a premeditated attack,” Hasina said.
“We can’t accept such a big offence. No one can learn anything by belittling the elders. They carried out the most heinous attack. How can the students carry out this kind of destruction?” she asked.
The prime minister asked the students to help the authorities find out the perpetrators.