- BNP Extends Moral Support to Student and Teacher Movements for Quota and Pension Reform
- BNP Vows to Revoke Pension Scheme if Returned to Power
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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has extended moral support to the ongoing movements of students demanding the cancellation of the quota system and university teachers demanding the withdrawal of the Universal Pension Scheme, Prottoy. The BNP considers both movements to be ‘just’ and ‘logical’.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made this announcement at a press conference on Saturday.
During an emergency meeting of its standing committee, the BNP's highest decision-making body, on Thursday night, the decision to support the two movements was made.
When asked if the BNP is trying to capitalize on the student-led anti-quota movement, Fakhrul said, “BNP is a political party; it’s our obligation to respond to what is happening in the country. This is a student movement, so it is not necessary for BNP to get directly involved. But won’t we morally support a just movement?” He suggested that there might be quotas for genuine freedom fighters, women, and persons with disabilities, but not 56 percent. He proposed a more reasonable 5 to 10 percent quota in government jobs.
Fakhrul criticized the existing 30 percent quota for freedom fighters, pointing out that there are questions about the legitimacy of many who claim this status.
He argued that maintaining a 56 percent quota in government jobs is incompatible with a merit-based and technologically advanced global system.
Fakhrul also accused the current authoritarian and illegitimate government of using the judiciary to thwart the just demands of the students. “We are on the same page with the students’ movement for their just and logical demand of quota reform. We believe the government’s attempt to suppress this movement using the law and judiciary will fail, as history shows that just movements of the people can never be suppressed,” he stated.
The BNP also supported the teachers’ movement, explaining that teachers, unlike others, do not have additional sources of income and must rely solely on their salaries.
Fakhrul urged the government to cancel the Universal Pension Scheme immediately, claiming it was introduced to create another avenue for corruption.
On Thursday, students and job seekers protesting against the reinstatement of the quota system in government jobs blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the city for five hours and announced fresh programs. Students from several public universities have been protesting since the High Court declared the cancellation of the freedom fighter quota in 2018 illegal on June 5 this year.
The students have announced strikes in all colleges and universities across the country next Sunday to press their demands.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said that if the BNP returns to power, the party will revoke this pension scheme if it remains in place until then.
Regarding the anti-quota movement, he mentioned that some quotas in government jobs could be reserved for the children of freedom fighters, members of ethnic minorities, the physically challenged, and other disadvantaged groups. “But it can’t be 56 percent. This could be five to ten percent to value merit.”
He clarified that the BNP has no objection to keeping quotas for the children of genuine freedom fighters, but criticized the government for issuing certificates to fake freedom fighters who exploit this quota. “We can’t support that.”
Fakhrul noted that, in response to a strong student movement, the government abolished the quota provision in government jobs through a circular issued on October 4, 2018.
He opposed the recent High Court verdict that restored the 30 percent quota system for the children of freedom fighters, arguing that if 56 percent of jobs are allocated to quotas, the development of merit will not be possible at all.
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