Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the issue of quota in government jobs should be settled in the Supreme Court.
He said, ‘It is subjudice to protest against the High Court’s verdict. Because we are in the government but we cannot say anything about it. Because if the High Court gives a verdict, it has to come again from the High Court.
He said this when the leaders came to meet him at Ganobhaban on the occasion of Jubo Mahila League’s 22nd foundation anniversary on Sunday morning.
The Prime Minister said, ‘I cannot say one thing today, we are seeing the quota movement. The quota for our freedom fighters should be abolished. Women’s quota should be abolished, such things are being heard. It was canceled once but what is the result?’
He said, ‘If you look at the results of the Public Service Commission examination, it would be seen that the number of girls who used to get the opportunity due to the quota, but in the last few years, did not get the opportunity. This is the reality. Even the people of many districts and remote areas have remained deprived. They are also not getting jobs. And because of such deprivation someone files a case so that the High Court gives a verdict. We do not always follow the judgment of the High Court. But we now see that the anti-quota movement is now trying to build again. Boys are doing anti-quota movement by leaving education, there are also girls doing it.’
The Prime Minister said, ‘Here I have a question, it is necessary to figure out how many of those who had earlier protested against quota took the Public Service Commission exam and how many passed. Should they show that they passed more exams, did girls get more jobs with more exams? Let them prove that first.’
He said, ‘I don’t think there is any justification for wasting time on studies which is being done again in the name of movement today.’
It should be noted that the students and job aspirants are agitating for several demands, including the reinstatement of the circular issued by the government in 2018 by canceling the quota system in government jobs. Although quota system was in place in various categories of jobs since independence. At one stage, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular canceling the quota in the government jobs of the ninth to 13th grade (first and second class) in October 2018 due to the students’ movement demanding reform of the quota.
The Prime Minister said about the universal pension scheme, ‘We have given the universal pension scheme, it is for everyone. It was in our election manifesto, the 2008 election manifesto. which we were able to do. Only government employees get pension and rest are deprived. So that no one is left out, different levels have been given in this pension scheme. I think everyone in our Yuva Mahila League can join this universal pension scheme. You can join for a future of your own.’
He said, ‘When people get old or are no longer able to work, they have an opportunity to get a guaranteed income for their livelihood. But it will last forever. I think those who are associated with our politics need to enter such a pension scheme.’
He also mentioned that special incentives have been given for those who are marginal or low income people.
Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Youth Mahila League has always been on the streets in protest, many times they were not only tortured by the police, but the armed leaders and workers of BNP also inflicted unspeakable torture on Awami League and its affiliated organization Jubo Mahila League. Many pictures and images of their torture are still there. They didn’t do anything as mother and sister during torture.’
He said, ‘They inflicted torture of such heinous nature that I have no words to condemn. Because they were not human at that time, but became lower than beasts. However, the Yuva Mahila League has played a strong role from the streets in every struggle, overcoming all obstacles.’
He said that even during his arrest, many people were arrested and imprisoned. Many of whom had to go to jail even with small children at home.
The Prime Minister said, ‘This organization has been struggling to establish people’s rights since its inception. It is through that struggle that we have come to the government today and we did not bow down no matter how much tyranny was inflicted, and we wanted only one thing to restore democracy.’
At that time, Khaleda Zia recalled the 15th February 1996 elections without voters and her forced resignation after a month and a half, her attempt to win the elections with one and a half million fake voters and even the role of Jubo Mahila League in gathering signatures and movement demanding her release when she was impeached during the caretaker government. Sheikh Hasina
He also mentioned the various security belt programs of his government and various measures for women empowerment.
Earlier, the leaders greeted Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina with flowers on the occasion of the foundation anniversary. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Jubo Mahila League website on the occasion.
On July 6, 2002, Awami League president and then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina formed Jubo Mahila League with a bunch of former leaders of Chhatra League.