Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad today urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to consider the students’ demand for reformation of quota system in the civil service with sympathy “as she has a motherly heart”.

Raushan said this in her winding up speech in the budget session of the House this evening.  

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She also called upon the PM to increase the age-limit to 35 years for entering the government jobs while fixing the retirement age at 65 years.

“There is confusion among our children about quota. It’s usual that they will seek jobs after completion of their studies.  It’s also usual for them staging demonstration (demanding quota reforms). They’re our children. We must provide them with jobs at any cost,” Raushan said.

 “I would like to urge the prime minister through you (the Speaker) to consider the quota reform issue with sympathy.  I know our Prime Minister has a motherly heart. I, therefore, request you to consider the issue. I know she’ll do it as she loves the country and its people,” she said.

Pointing to the current 10th parliament, the opposition leader said this parliament has been the most effective and successful parliament in the history of Bangladesh no matter who says what about it.

“Many people criticise about the present parliament. But no parliament in the past, especially in the last 20 to 25 years, was as effective as the present one,” she added.

Stating that some five crore capable people currently remain unemployed in the country, the opposition leader called upon the government to focus on job creation.

“You (govt) will have to create jobs. Or else, the young generation will take the wrong path.”

She also said unemployment leads to an increase in drug peddling as many jobless youths get engaged in it for making money.

Raushan suggested the government to take steps for rapid industrialisation in the country for generating jobs for unemployed youths.

She also underscored the need for increasing the budgetary allocation for the education sector.

“It‘s regrettable that the allocation proposed for the education sector is very low. It should have got the highest allocation,” Raushan said.

She also called upon the government to take proper steps for ensuring quality education so that students can qualify for better jobs also at the private sector.