Students of different universities have continued protests against the reinstatement of the quota system in government jobs.
The protestors staged demonstrations at Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University and Bangladesh Agricultural University for the second day on Wednesday.
Students and government job aspirants of Dhaka University, protesting under the banner of “Anti-discrimination Student Movement” blocked the Shahbagh intersection around 3:30pm. Earlier, they gathered in front of the university library and took out a protest march. The procession passed through different areas of the university, the High Court, went around Matsya Bhaban and arrived at Shahbagh. Thousands of students and job aspirants took part in the procession. This caused severe traffic jams on the roads around Shahbagh intersection, creating immense suffering for passengers. At 5:30 pm, the procession left Shahbagh and went to the foot of Raju sculpture and announced the new program.
A number of students at Dhaka University also staged demonstrations demanding continuation of the quota system of government jobs. Nahid Islam, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, “We want jobs based on merit. The 2018 circular should be reinstated immediately. Tomorrow the High Court will give the final verdict on the restoration of quota. If the verdict is against us, we will be forced to give a strict programme. For now, we will hold a sit-in programme in front of the central library of Dhaka University at 11 am on Thursday.”
Meanwhile, the students of Jahangirnagar University blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway around 3:00 pm on Wednesday in opposition to the quota. The road was closed till 5:00 pm causing long traffic jams on both sides of the highway.
Also, the students of Jagannath University protested under the banner of “Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Jagannath University”. Later they went to Tantibazar area with a protest procession from the main gate of the university and blocked the road. This caused severe traffic jams on various roads of Old Dhaka. Cars going to Sadarghat were also stuck.
Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University staged a protest by blocking the train demanding cancellation of quota. They blocked the train at Abdul Jabbar intersection of the university around 1:00 o’clock on Wednesday. Students blocked the train for more than an hour. Later, the students held a protest meeting in front of the open stage of the university.
As much as 56% quota was prevalent in government jobs in Bangladesh until 2018. Out of this, 30% was reserved for freedom fighters’ children, 10% for women, 10% for residents of backward districts, 5% for people from minority groups, and 1% for disabled people.
That year there were huge protests in various educational institutions of the country, including Dhaka University, demanding quota reform. Following the protests, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular cancelling the quota on 4 October of that year. However, the children of some freedom fighters later challenged the quota cancellation circular in the High Court.
In the verdict regarding the writ, that part of the circular was declared invalid on 5 June. Since then job seeking students have started protests.
BDST: 1142 HRS, JULY 04, 2024
MSK
