Almost a month into the prime minister's announcement to abolish the quota system, a group of indigenous people yesterday demanded a five percent reservation of all government jobs for the ethnic minority communities under special arrangement.

They also welcomed the premier's decision to make the special arrangement and urged her to keep their five-point demand in mind while planning the next course of action.

The demands include an official policy regarding the job reservation, which will be followed by government, semi-government, autonomous organisations and state-run banks; proper representation of all ethnic minorities while forming a committee to implement the policy; and keeping

the same share for indigenous students in higher education institutions.

The indigenous group under the banner of "Bangladesh er Khudro Nrigosthi Jonogon" (Ethnic Minority People of Bangladesh) raised the demands at a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

The organisers said indigenous people, who lag behind the majority of population, should be given this quota-like privilege in government organisations as part of the directive in the country's constitution to ensure equity among people.

The quota system helped ethnic minorities in different ways to catch up with the majority section, while giving them a chance to serve the country and improve their living standards, they said.

Against this backdrop, if quota

privileges are scrapped, then it would be difficult for them to make progress, they opined.

"We urge the prime minister to reserve five percent of jobs under the new special arrangement similar to the quota system," said convener of the group Ajoy Prokash.

He also called for the same allocation for indigenous students in universities.

Member of the group Shubhashis Chakma said if the government wants to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it must give these communities opportunities and ensure their rights.

Bangladesh is home to around 15 lakh indigenous and tribal people, making up 1.8 percent of the total population of the country.PM ON QUOTA

On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared to scrap the quota system in government jobs altogether during a parliament session. The PM, however, said a different arrangement will be made so that members of ethnic minorities and people with disabilities have an easier access to government jobs.

Her statement came amid countrywide demonstrations ofstudentsofpublic and private universities for a reform in the quota system.

Soon after the PM's announcement, the agitating students suspended their protest. PREVIOUS QUOTA DISTRIBUTION The quota system was introduced through

an executive order in 1972 and was amended several times. Currently, 44 percent were recruited from the merit list and 56 percent from various quotas.

Of the 56 percent, 30 percent were kept for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people of districts lagging behind, five percent for members of indigenous communities, and one percent for people with disabilities.

Since 1972, several public service reform committees and the Public Service Commission, the body that oversees government recruitment, have objected to this distribution.