The government yesterday issued a circular abolishing the quota system for class-I and class-II jobs in the civil service amid demonstrations for reinstating quota for the freedom fighters' descendants and indigenous communities.

A high-powered government committee has recommended abolishing the quota system for class-I and class-II jobs in civil service.

Quota reformist leaders express satisfaction to the cabinet committee as it recommended to abolish the existing quota preservation system in the first and second class government jobs.

The quota reformists yesterday threatened the government with tougher agitation if their three-point demand, including unconditional release of their leaders and exemplary punishment of the attackers, is not met by August 31.

Defying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's warning, Chhatra League men have yet again attacked activists of the quota reform movement.

When a group of teachers was staging a rally at Dhaka University yesterday against repression on students and teachers, Chhatra League men assaulted some quota reformists on the campus of Chittagong University.

The committee formed on July 2 to “review, reform or cancel” the quota system for civil service may seek 90 more working days as it has not finished collecting information and reviewing reports about the system, sources said.

Freedom fighters who won a legal battle six years ago are yet to get their retirement benefits for public service as the government has not implemented the court's verdict.

The government has been referring to a Supreme Court “order” on the reservation of 30 percent quota for the children of freedom fighters for the last few days, arguing that it cannot be changed.

“The university is the place of practicing freethinking where everyone has the right to express their opinions. But such attacks on the campus are not acceptable,” he said.

Shahana Begum was frequently turning to have a look at the photo of her son printed on the banner. But every time she did it, tears welled up in her eyes making it difficult for her to start the press conference.

Thirteen Supreme Court lawyers yesterday sent legal notices to the authorities of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities to inform them in 24 hours what action has been taken against the BCL men for attacks on students demanding quota reform in public jobs.

A Dhaka court yesterday sent three leaders of the quota reform movement to jail on completion of their two-day police remand.

Eminent citizens yesterday called upon the government to make clear its position over the quota system in civil service, in the wake of repeated assault and arrest of quota reformists in the past few days.

Following denial throughout the day, police yesterday evening admitted arresting a quota reform leader from the capital's Shantinagar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said it is not possible to reform the freedom fighters' quota in public jobs due to a High Court verdict.

The Dhaka University authorities yesterday claimed they never said “outsiders were prohibited on campus”.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque yesterday said there is no scope for bringing changes to the 30 percent freedom fighters' quota in public jobs because of a Supreme Court order.

The Dhaka University authorities yesterday said no outsider will be allowed to roam or stay on the campus without prior permission, a move that goes against the very character of the country's premier university.

Two activists of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front demanding quota system reform in the civil service comes under attacks allegedly by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Chittagong University campus.