The cabinet gave the approval in its regular meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Focus Bangla

On September 17, a committee, formed by the government, recommended abolishing the quota system for first and second class government jobs

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal for abolishing the existing quota system in the recruitment process of first and second class government jobs.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, reports UNB.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the secretariat.

"Now, the recruitment to the first and second class jobs (from grade-9 to grade-13) will be made directly on a merit basis," the cabinet secretary said, adding the quota system will be there only in class-3 and class-4 jobs.

The Ministry of Public Administration will be informed about the cabinet's decision by today or tomorrow, and it will issue a gazette notification in this regard later, said Shafiul Alam.

On September 17, the Quota Review Committee, led by Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, submitted its report to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, recommending abolishment of the quota system from the 9th to 13th grades (1st class and 2nd class) of government jobs.

The cabinet secretary said the seven-member committee in its report also placed two other recommendations -- to make recruitment to grade-9 (formerly 1st class) and grade 9-13 (formerly 2nd class) government services on a merit basis, and to make a proper decision in the future reviewing the impact of quota abolishment on the socio-economic condition of the exiting beneficiaries of the quota system after a certain time.

Explaining the third recommendation, he said if the necessity of quotas becomes inevitable in any changed situation in the future, the government may take steps again in this regard.

On July 2, the government formed the seven-member committee to review the existing quota system in public service.

On September 17, a government committee led by Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam recommended the abolition of the quota system for first and second class government jobs.

The committee had suggested abolishing almost all the quotas in government jobs to prioritize merit-based recruitment.

On July 2, the Public Administration Ministry formed the seven-member committee to review, reform, or revoke the existing quota system—following a nationwide movement of public and private university students demanding reform to the quota system.

The movement, which started in February, intensified in April after clashes between activists, police, and Bangladesh Chhatra League on the Dhaka University campus.

In response to that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on April 11 that all quotas would be abolished.

Currently, 56% of recruitment in government jobs are reserved for candidates who fulfil various quotas, 30% of government jobs are given to the offspring of freedom fighters, 10% are allocated on the basis of a district quota, 10% are reserved for women, 5% for ethnic communities, and 1% for people with disabilities.