A quota system to reserve jobs in the civil service for specific groups, including descendants of war veterans, became the achilles heel of Bangladesh’s authoritarian prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Weeks of unrest, which started as student-led protests against the quotas, ultimately forced her to resign and flee the country.
Hasina’s government caused considerable chaos over its 15 years in power, so the country’s interim leaders have much work to do. But they must focus particular attention on the civil service, which requires urgent reform.
The civil service recruitment examination process in Bangladesh has remained largely unchanged since British rule over the Indian subcontinent came to an end in 1947. However, it has been spoiled by corruption that starts even before recruitment begins.
