Dhaka, Sep 20 – Indigenous students of Bangladesh on Thursday demanded retention of a five percent quota for members of ethnic and religious minorities in government jobs and higher education. The ethnic minorities came up with demand while addressing at a human chain held in front of anti-terrorism Raju memorial sculpture of Dhaka University (DU) around 55 pm Organised by AdIbashi Quota Protection Council, more than 50 students participated in the programme.
Expressing solidarity with them Bangladesh Chhatra Federation president Golam Mostafa said, “The quota reform body formed by the government recommended to abolishing quota system from 9th to 13th grades (1st class and 2nd class) of government jobs. But our ethnic minority people are poor and deprived of different privileges. If the government withdraws the quota system, the indigenous people will be more deprived.”
“We hope the government will reconsider, and retain the existing five percent quota for minorities,” the student leader added.
Adibasi Parishad central vice-president Sumita Rabidash, and Tripura Students Forum publication secretary Hola Chandra Tripura, among others addressed the program. – UNB
