BNP terms demand for job quota reform justified

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Almgair termed on Monday justified the demand of the demonstrating students and job-seekers for reform of the existing quota system in public service, reports UNB.

The BNP leader made the comments while speaking at an emergency press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.

He alleged police swooped on peaceful demonstrations without any provocation only to suppress the movement of hundreds of students and job-seekers.

"We strongly condemn and protest the barbaric and unprovoked attack by police on the students and job-seekers who were demonstrating to realise their justified demand," Fakhrul said.

He also demanded the government immediately release those demonstrators who were detained by police.

Fakhrul also assured that his party, if it returns to power, will revoke the quota except those kept for women, freedom fighters' children, women and ethnic minority.

On February 17, students and job-seekers started the movement to press for their five-point demand that include introduction of unified age limit in government jobs, review of quota system in government recruitment process, including Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, stopping taking benefit by job-seekers under the same quota, filling vacant posts from merit list if the candidates from quota are not found and fixation of 10 per cent quota instead of existing 56 percent.

The Dhaka University areas turned into a battle field early Monday as a fresh protest started again on Sunday.