Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the government cannot take any action regarding the quota system until the court issues a solution.
“The executive authority has nothing to do right now when the higher court or the court passes a judgment. The issue will have to be solved at the court,” she said at a press conference today held at her official residence, Ganabhaban, to discuss the outcomes of her recent visit to China.
Addressing the quota protesters, she remarked that those leading the movement do not adhere to laws, do not respect the court, do not understand the Constitution, or comprehend governmental operations. “Yes, they are meritorious, but they will have to have ideas about these matters,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina noted that the court has provided the protesters the opportunity to present their arguments in a legal setting. However, they seem to prefer resolving the matter through street protests.
“Since the issue went to the court and the court passed a judgment, I have no right to stand against the judgment right now and the constitution also doesn’t allow me to do so,” she explained.
“We have nothing to do here until it is solved in court. That is the reality. They’ll have to accept this reality. Otherwise, we have nothing to do and they will continue their movement (without any result),” she emphasized.
The Prime Minister also warned protesters that destructive activities in the name of protests will not be tolerated.
“Destructive acts will not be allowed. No one will say anything as long as they continue their movement peacefully. But if they engage in activities like attacking police and vandalizing vehicles, the law will take its own course,” PM Hasina said.
The prime minister said her government abolished the quota system in the government jobs following the 2018 movement to see its consequences.
“We abolished the quota system when the movement was waged against it. But what result of this abolishment is seen today?” she said.
Citing that females also joined the 2018 anti-quota movement, she said but only two women in the last BCS examination qualified for foreign services and four for police cadre.
Defending the district-based quota system in the government jobs and for the marginalised community, she said some districts are getting deprived of abolishment of the quota system. Not a single person got a job in police services from 23 districts in an examination, she added.
The marginalised community also has the right to get jobs, she went on.
Criticising the protesters who she said are insulting the freedom fighters, she said, “Why do they have so much anger against the freedom fighters?”
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Deputy Leader of Parliament Matia Chowdhury, Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, AL presidium members Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and IT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu and State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat, among others, were present at the dias.
PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan conducted the conference.