Opposition Leader of Jatiya Sangsad and Jatiya Party Chairman Gholam Mohammad Quader commented that the creation of a discrimination-free society is being hindered by the quota system in the job in the name of the spirit of liberation war. He said that the quota of a large number of jobs for the generation after the liberation war has been fixed forever. I believe that it hinders the formation of a justice-based society without discrimination, which is the main objective of freedom.
He said these things in the closing speech of the first budget session of the 12th JS on Wednesday (July 3). Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the session.
GM Quader said that we should not forget that the people of this country are ready to accept any sacrifice and go to any stage to win the struggle against discrimination. Our main achievement in the freedom struggle is the constitution; it talks about equality of opportunity. Our Shaheed Minar is a symbol of sacrifice in the struggle for freedom from discrimination. Our national memorial is a symbol of our commitment to build a just and fair country.
On the quota system, the opposition leader said that till 2018, there would be 56 percent of recruitment in first class, second class, third class and fourth class in government jobs. Out of this, a 30 per cent quota is reserved for freedom fighters, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for residents of backward districts, 5 per cent for people belonging to minority castes and one per cent for disabled people. The remaining 44 percent were recruited on merit. In 2018, the demand of the students was to cancel the quota of freedom fighters only from 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th class in government jobs. In the wake of the movement, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular canceling all the quota system in the recruitment of 1st and 2nd class. But in class III and IV, quota system remains as before.
Opposition leader GM Quader said that in 2021, the children of some freedom fighters filed a petition in the High Court challenging the part of the freedom fighter quota cancellation in the circular. The court announced the judgment of the writ on June 5. There, the cancellation of the section reserved for freedom fighters by the public administration was declared illegal. As a result, under the banner of anti-discrimination student movement, job aspirants and ordinary students are again coming to the field to demand the reinstatement of the circular issued by the government which is creating a new crisis.
Criticizing the effort to evict the Mironzillah Harijan sweeper colony in Ward No. 33 of Old Dhaka, GM Quader said that some houses were demolished by the Dhaka South City Corporation to evict the Harijans. Children lay on the streets while other houses were demolished. They were then threatened to demolish more houses later. Those working in the city corporation will be sacked.
He said, the purpose of this eviction is to build a market there. Eviction without resettlement of these families living since the British period is very inhumane. Evicting the neglected, helpless, untouchable families from their homesteads for the purpose of building a market at this moment will tarnish the image of not only the government but the nation. He requested the intervention of the Prime Minister to stop their eviction without rehabilitation and to improve their living standards.
Highlighting the information of the 2023 report of the United States' Report on International Religious Freedom, the JP chairman said that torture and harassment of minorities has not stopped yet. The report expressed concern over the use of digital security laws to oppress religious minorities in Bangladesh. Harassment is being used against members of the minority community for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. He urged the government to take necessary steps to stop torture and harassment.