Rashed Khan’s appointment hailed
Following the appointment of Md Rashed Khan as the Prime Minister’s Assistant (Political) with the rank of Secretary, Mohammad Abdul Wadud—one of the key initiators of the quota reform movement, the petitioner behind the landmark 2018 quota reform writ, and a journalist who published hundreds of reports in national newspapers advocating for the reform—has congratulated the new appointee and expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister.
Wadud conveyed his congratulations and appreciation in an emotional Facebook post on Monday.
In his post, he wrote: “Heartfelt congratulations to Md Rashed Khan—a key leader of the quota reform movement, a dynamic and rational figure, and a promising future leader of the BNP.”
Mohammad Abdul Wadud, Assignment Editor at The New Nation, recalled that after being deprived of a BCS appointment under the then 56 per cent quota system, he, along with High Court lawyer Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan,
BSS Chief Reporter and fellow petitioner Md Didarul Alam Didar, and former Dhaka University student Anisur Rahman Mir, filed a writ petition with the High Court on 31 January 2018 seeking quota reform.
He said he had played a significant role in building public support for the movement by publishing hundreds of reports in national dailies, adding, “The July movement was a direct outcome of that initiative.”
Wadud further said that without the tireless efforts of grassroots activists and leaders—including State Minister Nurul Haque Nur (VP Nur), the newly appointed Prime Minister’s Assistant Md Rashed Khan, MP Nahid Islam, MP Akhtar Hossain, Hasan Al Mamun, Faruk Hasan, Tareq Rahman, Muhammad Abu Hanif and Ayatullah Beheshti—the course of history might have been very different.
Describing himself as one of the architects of the quota reform movement, he said their contributions would always be remembered.
He also expressed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman for recognising those who had been overlooked and giving them due recognition. He respectfully urged the Prime Minister to continue this process by acknowledging those who had initiated the quota reform movement despite risking their lives.
