The Ministry of Public Administration will scrutinise the existing quota system and inform the Prime Minister about it, said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Monday.

He said this while talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat where an unscheduled discussion on quota system was held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

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Shahbagh aflame with quota demo

"No decision was taken at the meeting on the quota system in public service but it must be scrutinised," Shafiul Alam said.

The job-seekers on merit list are deprived much due to the quota system, the meeting observed.

It further said no one is undermining the meritorious job-seekers and those who are on merit list are getting greater scope after modification in the [latest] job circular.

The Cabinet Secretary said some 77.40 percent job-seekers were appointed from the merit list in the 33rd BCS while 67.49 percent from the 35th BCS and 70.38 percent from the 36th BCS.

Students and job-seekers started demonstrations against the quota system in government jobs on February 17 and their protests took a violent turn following police action on the demonstrating students at Shahbagh early Monday.

On March 7, the government issued a notification relaxing its previous system of preserving vacant posts.

Now the posts of different government jobs, which remain vacant for not getting eligible candidates from quota, will be filled from merit lists.