Bangladesh quota reform movement

This article is about the overall movement occuring since 2013. For the most recent protests in July 2024, see 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement. For the anti-authoritarian protests succeeding it, see Non-cooperation movement (2024).

Bangladesh quota reform movement
A protester in the 2024 movement carrying the Bangladeshi flag with the slogan "One point one demand, Quota not come back" written on his body. A rally of female student protesters in BUET during the 2018 movement, with the protest sign written "Reform Quota".
Date	c. 2013 – 2024 First phase: 6 June–18 July 2013 Second phase: 17 February–18 July 2018 Third phase: 6 June – present
Location	Bangladesh and abroad
Caused by	First and Second Phase: Quota system of Bangladesh Civil Service Third Phase: Reinstating of the pre-2018 quota system
Goals	Reduction of quotas in public sector jobs and education for a merit-based system
Methods	Protests Sit-ins Public demonstrations Traffic obstruction Picketing Sitdown strikes Occupation Rail obstruction Internet activism Lawsuits Civil strife Riots Arson Vandalism Remittance boycott
Resulted in	First Phase: Not Successful Second Phase: The government issued a circular reducing reserved quotas for government jobs from 56% to 35% and eliminating the freedom fighters' quota. Third Phase: The Appellate Division of Supreme Court orders 93% recruitment in government jobs to be based on merit and 5% to be reserved for the children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters and Biranganas, 1% for the ethnic minorities and 1% for the third gender and the disabled people, with the public administration ministry publishing a gazette notification in line with the Supreme Court verdict
Casualties
Death(s)	Third phase: 209+

The quota reform movement in Bangladesh has been organized to demand reduction of quota in government jobs and recruitment based on merit. Till 2024, there has been a total of three agitations for quota reforms in Bangladesh. So far, the general university and college students are in favor of this movement and the Awami League ruling Bangladesh government, Chhatra League and Awami League like-minded organizations are against.

The first quota reform movement took place in 2013. Then in 2018, after the movement, a circular was announced in favor of the agitators. But this circular was declared invalid by the Supreme Court and the movement started again in 2024. Every time during the agitation, Bangladesh Police and Chhatra League attacked the students with lethal force.

Background

Main article: Quota system of Bangladesh Civil Service

Quota system was first introduced in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh in government jobs. At that time, 20% of the merit list was allocated, 40% was district-wise, 30% was allotted to family members of freedom fighters who participated in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh, and 10% was allotted to war-affected women. This quota system was changed several times later.

Previously, Bangladesh has more than 55% quota in various government jobs, including 30& freedom fighter quota, 10% district-wise quota, 10% for women and 5% for minorities. However, as per the rules, if there are no qualified candidates in these quotas, 1% is allocated for the disabled. As a result, only 44% of the candidates were able to secure placement on merit. This leads to dissatisfaction among a large section of general students, as they are being deprived of marks in any examination despite scoring more than the under-quota candidates.

According to the information published in Prothom Alo, the number of registered freedom fighters is 200–250 thousands, that is, the number of freedom fighters is 1.2–1.5 per 1,000 people, which accounts 0.12–0.15% of the entire population. That means, for 0.12% freedom fighters, the quota amount is 30%, converting to thousands, it can be seen that the quota amount is 300 for 1% to 1.5% (one and a half) freedom fighters among 1,000 people.

Articles 19(1), 29(1) and 29(2) of the Constitution of Bangladesh mention equal opportunities for all citizens in employment.

Outcome

In the wake of the movement, the Cabinet of the Government of Bangladesh on 3 October 2018, issued a circular dismissing the quota system for recruitment in the ninth to thirteenth grades (formerly known as first and second class jobs). On 30 July 2019, the government said, there is no quota in recruitment in 1st and 2nd class post (9th to 13th grade) at present, the quota for the post of 3rd and 4th class (14th to 20th grade) is still in force, but if no candidate of the relevant quota is found, it has to be filled from the merit list of the general candidate. In addition to clarifying the previous circular on quotas issued on 20 January 2020, the cabinet also approved a proposal provided by the Ministry of Public Administration to cancel quotas on direct appointments to eighth or higher grade posts in government jobs.

On 21 July 2024, the Appellate Division of Supreme Court ordered an overhaul to the quota reservation system. It increased merit appointments in the civil service to 93% and reduced slots allotted for descendants of veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to 5%, with the remainder going to ethnic minorities, the disabled and third gender people.

On 23 July 2024, the public administration ministry published a gazette notification in line with the Supreme Court verdict on the quota system in government jobs. Law minister Anisul Huq said the new quota system will be followed while recruiting employees directly in all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, statutory bodies and different corporations.