No quota for Class I, II jobs

Recommends govt review committee on quota reform

A high-profile quota review committee has recommended the abolition of the existing quota system for Class-I and Class-II type of government jobs. At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the committee submitted a report with recommendations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking steps in this regard. Cabinet secretary M Shafiul Alam, who is also the committee chief, said at a press briefing that the committee has recommended that there should not be any quota for appointment to government jobs of the categories of Grades 13–9 (Class I and II jobs). “Now, the report of the committee would be placed before the Cabinet meeting next month and a gazette notification will be issued in this regard,” he added.

After the proposed gazette notification is issued, the authorities can make appointments, on the basis of merit, for first- and second-class government jobs. The Cabinet secretary said the seven-member committee had examined the court directive on the reservation for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters. The government would decide on the matter, he added.

On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced in Parliament the abolition of all quotas in government jobs following a student movement demanding reforms in the quota system. After the announcement, the government formed a seven-member committee, headed by the Cabinet secretary, to review the existing quota system in public service.

Other members of the committee are senior secretary to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, secretaries to the Finance Division, Public Administration Ministry, Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Public Service Commission Secretariat, and acting secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Secretary to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Begum Aktari Momtaj, told The Independent that they welcomed the report by the quota review committee. The PSC would be able to recruit Class-1 officers on the basis of merit through the 40th BCS examination after the authorities issue a gazette notification, she said.

“Currently, the authorities are recruiting for 56 per cent of government jobs on the basis of quotas and the rest 45 per cent on the basis of merit,” she added. Earlier, out of the 56 per cent quota, the government was reserving 30 per cent of government jobs for families of freedom fighters, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for particular districts, 5 per cent for small ethnic groups, and 1 per cent for people with disabilities. Former Cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder said he welcomed the recommendations of the quota review committee. The committee had been asked to submit its report within 15 working days.

 

No quota for Class I, II jobs

Recommends govt review committee on quota reform

A high-profile quota review committee has recommended the abolition of the existing quota system for Class-I and Class-II type of government jobs. At yesterdays Cabinet meeting, the committee submitted a report with recommendations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking steps in this regard. Cabinet secretary M Shafiul Alam, who is also the committee chief, said at a press briefing that the committee has recommended that there should not be any quota for appointment to government jobs of the categories of Grades 139 (Class I and II jobs). Now, the report of the committee would be placed before the Cabinet meeting next month and a gazette notification will be issued in this regard, he added. After the proposed gazette notification is issued, the authorities can make appointments, on the basis of merit, for first- and second-class government jobs. The Cabinet secretary said the seven-member committee had examined the court directive on the reservation for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters. The government would decide on the matter, he added. On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced in Parliament the abolition of all quotas in government jobs following a student movement demanding reforms in the quota system. After the announcement, the government formed a seven-member committee, headed by the Cabinet secretary, to review the existing quota system in public service. Other members of the committee are senior secretary to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, secretaries to the Finance Division, Public Administration Ministry, Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Public Service Commission Secretariat, and acting secretary to the Prime Ministers Office. Secretary to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Begum Aktari Momtaj, told The Independent that they welcomed the report by the quota review committee. The PSC would be able to recruit Class-1 officers on the basis of merit through the 40th BCS examination after the authorities issue a gazette notification, she said. Currently, the authorities are recruiting for 56 per cent of government jobs on the basis of quotas and the rest 45 per cent on the basis of merit, she added. Earlier, out of the 56 per cent quota, the government was reserving 30 per cent of government jobs for families of freedom fighters, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for particular districts, 5 per cent for small ethnic groups, and 1 per cent for people with disabilities. Former Cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder said he welcomed the recommendations of the quota review committee. The committee had been asked to submit its report within 15 working days.