On June 5, 2024, the High Court declared the government’s 2018 decision to cancel the 30 percent quota for children of freedom fighters in civil service positions (ninth to thirteenth grades) as illegal. This ruling reinstates the quota, which had been a provision since 1972.
The verdict was delivered by a bench consisting of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu, following a writ petition filed by Ohidul Islam Tushar and six other petitioners, all children of freedom fighters. The petition challenged a circular from the Ministry of Public Administration that abolished the quota system. Deputy Attorney General Sk Shaifuzzaman confirmed the restoration of the quota but noted that the government may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.
The circular issued in October 2018 mandated that appointments for certain government positions be based solely on merit, thus removing the existing quota system. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the quota system is justified under Article 150 of the Constitution, emphasizing its historical significance in recognizing the contributions of freedom fighters and women affected during the 1971 Liberation War.
