Bangladesh disappointed at foreign diplomats’ remarks on attack on quota protesters

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has expressed his displeasure at the statements issued by some diplomatic missions in Bangladesh on the attacks on quota reform protesters.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 July 2018, 02:53 PM
Updated : 19 July 2018, 03:04 PM

“This movement has become a ploy of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami who want to destabilise the country,” he told Dhaka-based foreign diplomats at a briefing on Thursday, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Most of the European embassies in Dhaka and the United States recently issued statements condemning the attacks on the protesters demanding publication of a gazette abolishing the quota system in government jobs and withdrawal of cases over violence during protests.

The quota system was introduced in 1972 as “an affirmative action to promote inclusive representation of people of various social, economic and cultural backgrounds in government jobs”, the foreign minister told the diplomatic corps.

Quotas for women, people with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, and descendants of freedom fighters were introduced to promote opportunities for marginalised groups of the society, he pointed out.

“Nonetheless, majority of personnel recruited through BCS examination system are appointed from merit list,” Ali added. 

In the 33rd BCS in 2012, as many as 77.4 percent candidates were recruited from the merit lists, 63.69 percent in the 35th BCS in 2015, and in the 36th BCS in 2016, it was 70.38 percent, according to the foreign minister.

The protests continued even after assurances from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina because “a quarter with vested interest hijacked the demonstrations and created anarchy on the campus”, Ali said.

“The movement for ongoing ‘Quota Reform’ has been marred by violence and acts of terror. The anarchists attacked the house and family of the vice chancellor of Dhaka University.

“These attacks are similar to the violence that took place in 2014 committed by BNP-Jamaat, which was rejected by EU Parliament through adopting two resolutions,” he said.

He reiterated that Hasina is committed “to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh”.

The government has been making remarkable progress in socio-economic field, he said and added UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Bangladesh as “economic miracle” during his recent visit.

Ali also touched on the Rohingya refugee issue and said Bangladesh was currently facing the “formidable challenge” of hosting 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

“We are trying to ensure their safe and sustainable return to Myanmar. We strived to create a democratic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, peaceful and prosperous country,” the foreign minister added.