Staff Reporter :
The issue of quota is being scrutinized and discussed at the highest level of the government, Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam said on Monday.
“Nothing has not been final as yet,” he told reporters while briefing the media following the regular cabinet meeting.
Summing up, the Cabinet Secretary said, the process itself is “complex” and that any decision regarding this issue will “take time” to come to decision.
In response to a question from the reporters, the cabinet secretary said that the decision will be taken by examining the issue of cancellation, conservation or renovation of government quota in job considering several issues.
“It is under active consideration of the government. Order to do something at our stage has not yet arrived. But in simple way you can analyz it, there are more complications,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
There was a proposal to form a committee led by the cabinet secretary in connection with removal, preservation and reform in the quota system for government jobs. But no committee has been formed officially so far.
It has not been possible to start work in this connection either. Over a month ago, the Public Administration Ministry sent a proposal to the government about forming a quota reform committee. Several officials of the Public Administration Ministry said, given the prevailing circumstances, the quota system should not be abolished. If it is abolished, the beneficiaries of the system may file cases. They said, ‘something’ will be done on the issue, but did not specify.
On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared to withdraw all quota structure in civil service after student demonstrations almost paralysed the country.
However, any development in this regard has not materialised, even until now.
Currently, 55 per cent of the first and second grade government job positions are filled by preference. The remaining 45 per cent are recruited by merit. There are various quotas in the third and fourth grade jobs too.
