03:28Hundreds of university students marched in Dhaka on Thursday to protest against the 'quota system' which reserves government job entry positions for so-called 'entitled' applicants from certain backgrounds and demographics.
Footage shows demonstrators marching and chanting while waving Bangladeshi flags. Demonstrators were also seen getting caught in heavy rain during the end of the protest.
"In Bangladesh, inequality is increasing through quotas. We demanded quota reform in 2018 and are agitating for quota reform in 2024," a Dhaka university student said. "The 30 percent freedom fighter quota cannot be kept in any way. It should be brought down to zero."
The 30 percent quota for children or grandchildren of 1971 'freedom fighters' - those who fought in the liberation war leading to an independent Bangladesh - is among the 56 percent of 'reserved' jobs in the government recruitment system. It also includes 10 percent for women, 10 percent for districts based on population, five percent for ethnic minorities, and one percent for people with disabilities.
A protester said that their demand of abolishing the quota is 'loud and clear', saying "all jobs should be recruited on the basis of merit."
"Meritless bureaucracy is being developed in the country through this quota system. When 56 percent of government job recruitment is through quota, there is nothing left for talented students to do[...] Our only demand is that we have no objection to the government giving allowance to the quota holders. But there cannot be any quota system in recruitment," another student protester agreed.
According to media reports, the student protesters blocked roads and highways in all areas of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Comilla, Savar, to demand the cancellation of the quota system.
'Inequality is increasing' - Hundreds of university students protest against job 'quota system' in Dhaka
Hundreds of university students marched in Dhaka on Thursday to protest against the 'quota system' which reserves government job entry positions for so-called 'entitled' applicants from certain backgrounds and demographics.
Footage shows demonstrators marching and chanting while waving Bangladeshi flags. Demonstrators were also seen getting caught in heavy rain during the end of the protest.
"In Bangladesh, inequality is increasing through quotas. We demanded quota reform in 2018 and are agitating for quota reform in 2024," a Dhaka university student said. "The 30 percent freedom fighter quota cannot be kept in any way. It should be brought down to zero."
The 30 percent quota for children or grandchildren of 1971 'freedom fighters' - those who fought in the liberation war leading to an independent Bangladesh - is among the 56 percent of 'reserved' jobs in the government recruitment system. It also includes 10 percent for women, 10 percent for districts based on population, five percent for ethnic minorities, and one percent for people with disabilities.
A protester said that their demand of abolishing the quota is 'loud and clear', saying "all jobs should be recruited on the basis of merit."
"Meritless bureaucracy is being developed in the country through this quota system. When 56 percent of government job recruitment is through quota, there is nothing left for talented students to do[...] Our only demand is that we have no objection to the government giving allowance to the quota holders. But there cannot be any quota system in recruitment," another student protester agreed.
According to media reports, the student protesters blocked roads and highways in all areas of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Comilla, Savar, to demand the cancellation of the quota system.
Hundreds of university students marched in Dhaka on Thursday to protest against the 'quota system' which reserves government job entry positions for so-called 'entitled' applicants from certain backgrounds and demographics.
Footage shows demonstrators marching and chanting while waving Bangladeshi flags. Demonstrators were also seen getting caught in heavy rain during the end of the protest.
"In Bangladesh, inequality is increasing through quotas. We demanded quota reform in 2018 and are agitating for quota reform in 2024," a Dhaka university student said. "The 30 percent freedom fighter quota cannot be kept in any way. It should be brought down to zero."
The 30 percent quota for children or grandchildren of 1971 'freedom fighters' - those who fought in the liberation war leading to an independent Bangladesh - is among the 56 percent of 'reserved' jobs in the government recruitment system. It also includes 10 percent for women, 10 percent for districts based on population, five percent for ethnic minorities, and one percent for people with disabilities.
A protester said that their demand of abolishing the quota is 'loud and clear', saying "all jobs should be recruited on the basis of merit."
"Meritless bureaucracy is being developed in the country through this quota system. When 56 percent of government job recruitment is through quota, there is nothing left for talented students to do[...] Our only demand is that we have no objection to the government giving allowance to the quota holders. But there cannot be any quota system in recruitment," another student protester agreed.
According to media reports, the student protesters blocked roads and highways in all areas of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Comilla, Savar, to demand the cancellation of the quota system.