Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Vol. 5 Num 606 Fri. February 10, 2006       Letters to Editor PSC Md. Harisur Rahman, JU The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) is a quasi-judicial body established under the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It works under the provisions of the Articles 137 to 140 of the Constitution and certain other rules and regulations made by the Govt. from time to time under the Constitution. Quota distribution (for both cadre and non cadre posts) merit 45% , district 55% which includes freedom fighters/ freedom fighters' daughters/sons 30%, female 10% tribal 5%, general 10%. I think every graduate student knows the quota distribution system. So, why am I bothering about this? I ask myself. But like so many BCS job dreamers who are going to sit for the written test I cannot convince myself rather confuse myself and blame by family and my fate that I was not born in these privileged families for example, freedom fighters' families. Why? Because, I would get a cadre by getting minimum pass marks that is, by getting only 45% marks. We know the quota, which is given to freedom fighters' families , is not being filled up because of the lack of qualified candidates obtaining minimum pass marks. But student in the merit quota cannot make sure their places even after getting 55% marks in the written test. I am not denying the great legacy of our freedom fighters, but what I am trying to say is that by providing quota to the offspring of our great real freedom fighters, our freedom fighters are being embarrassed. Because they didn't liberate the country for the mercy or pity which would be shown to their daughters and sons. They were real fighters and they would believe that in the battlefield of meritocracy their children would also win their places. Does not a freedom fighter get embarrassed when his or her daughter or son gets mistreatment and taunting remarks from the viva board members? For example, one viva board member asked one of the freedom fighter's sons whose viva he would take. "Would you get the job on your own qualification ? It is your father's legacy for whom you are here, so, I am taking your father's viva." So it is up to the authorities to take this controversial quota system under scrutiny so that the meritocracy can get front position. We appreciate the new exam system but we are dismayed by the unequal quota system, which has no valid ground. In addition to this, the debate about fake or real freedom fighters is continuing. One of my friends asked me how many years and how many generations would get this privilege? It has been 35 years since we got liberty but, why the age of the freedom fighters has been relaxed to 32 years instead of 30 years? I was not able to answer my friend. Who can answer him?