Quota system of Bangladesh Civil Service

The quota system of Bangladesh Civil Service requires the Civil Service offer a certain number of jobs to members of certain groups, such as descendants of freedom fighters from the Bangladesh Liberation War, religious and ethnic minorities, underrepresented districts, and disabled groups.

[4][5] The verdict was stayed by the Appellate Division while the government of Bangladesh took action to squash the High Court order restoring the quota system.

[6][7] The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on 21 July reduced the quota, increasing the recruitment percentage for government jobs to 93%.

[8] The quota system serves as an affirmative action plan for marginalized groups, as well as for descendants (including grandchildren in 2010) of former soldiers.

[10][11] Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka, opposed the move and called for merit-based recruitment.

[10] In 2008, Akbar Ali Khan, former civil servant and freedom fighter, and Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, civil servant, provided Dr. Saadat Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, a report on the quota system essentially describing it as a flawed system and calling for reforms.

[10] A descendant of a freedom fighter and six others appealed the verdict in 2021 to challenge the government order canceling the quota system.

[15] On 21 July 2024, Supreme Court of Bangladesh increased recruitment to government jobs based on merit to 93%, while reducing the quota for freedom fighters and their descendants to 5%, 1% for ethnic minorities and 1% for the third gender and disabled.