Anti-quota students enforce 'Bangla Blockade', announce one-point demand
Highlights:
- Dhaka University students staged blockade at Shahbagh intersection
- Students of Dhaka College staged demonstration at Science Lab intersection
- Eden College students blocked Nilkhet intersection
- All entrances on Paribagh, Hare Road, and Mintoo Road were blocked
- The protesters also took positions at Sonargaon and Banglamotor intersection
- Jahangirnagar University students block Dhaka-Aricha highway for 2 hours
- Students of Cumilla University blocked Dhaka-Chattogram highway
- The prime minister dismisses anti-quota protest as irrational, calls it sub-judice
- Education minister questions if any conspiracy behind organsied blockades
Anti-quota student protesters blocked several key locations in the capital, including Shahbagh, Nilkhet, Science Lab, and Banglamotor intersections, as well as major highways across the country for several hours, disrupting traffic movement yesterday on the first day of their "Bangla Blockade" programme.
At the end of the day's programme, the agitating students announced that they would continue the blockade with a "one-point" demand starting today.
"Our one-point demand is that the illogical quotas in all grades of government jobs should be abolished through enacting a law in parliament," said Hasnat Abdullah, student of Dhaka University, one of the protest coordinators.
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In the capital, the protesters withdrew their blockade at the Shahbagh intersection after four hours at 8pm today following a meeting between the coordinators and law enforcement officials.
At the end of Sunday's "Bangla Blockade" programme, Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, announced that they will continue the protests with one-point demand from tomorrow.
He said they will gather in front of Dhaka University's central library at 3:30pm on Monday and stage blockade at Shahbagh intersection.
Regarding the next programme, Nahid Islam stated that the class and exam boycott will continue indefinitely until their demands are met.
Additionally, he said the "Bangla Blockade" programme will be further extended.
"Today we went from Shahbagh to Karwan Bazar, and tomorrow we will go till Farmgate. If our demands are not met, our efforts will intensify further," he said yesterday.
Addressing the prime minister, Nahid Islam said, "With due respect, I am saying that the rationale of the quota movement was demonstrated by the students in 2018. The constitution guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens, and that is what we are fighting for. Referring us to the court is pointless, we are advocating for the constitution."
He said, "The prime minister had ruled in favor of canceling the quota in Parliament [in 2018]. We hope she will also address the quota discrimination in favour of the students this time as well. Students cannot afford to wait for the court's decision. We have no other options left."
Around 7:00pm, the protesters began returning to Shahbagh after lifting the blockade at Minto Road, Hotel Intercontinental intersection, and Banglamotor.
Students protesting at Nilkhet and Science Lab intersection joined Shahbagh blockade this evening with scattered processions.
Earlier, the students of Dhaka University gathered in front of the central library and brought out a procession around 3:20pm. The procession paraded through various roads on campus and proceed to Shahbagh intersection via TSC.
During the blockade, students spent their time singing patriotic songs, chanting anti-quota slogans, and playing football on the road.
The protesting students broke through the police barricade and occupied the area up to the Hotel Intercontinental intersection.
They also took positions in front of Rajasik Bhaskarjya, adjacent to Paribag and Hotel Intercontinental.
Traffic movement from Shahbagh to Karwan Bazar intersection remained suspended during the students' blockade programme.
All entrances on Paribagh, Hare Road, and Mintoo Road were blocked. The protesters also took positions at Banglamotor intersection.
On the other hand, the students of Dhaka College blocked the Science Lab intersection around 1:40pm.
The students participating in the movement stated that they will continue the protests until the quota system is abolished.
At around 3:00pm, the students of Eden College took position at Nilkhet intersection, resulting in the closure of traffic on that road.
Regarding the students' protest, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advised the students to end their protest and to resume their studies.
In response to PM's advice Sargis Alam, one of the coordinators of the quota movement said, today we will study and protest simultaneously.
He said, "You can bring one of your favourite books, dry food, and one litre of normal water."
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said at the Secretariat on Sunday, "The government is deeply analysing the situation of teachers and students protest. They are connected with the teachers. They will give a solution on time."
JU students block Dhaka-Aricha highway for 2 hours
Jahangirnagar University students have staged their two-hour-long "Bangla Blockade" programme last afternoon (7 July) by blocking the Dhaka-Aricha highway from 11am to 1pm.
Students of all 36 departments have also boycotted their classes and exams.
Earlier on the day, the JU students protesting against the reinstatement of quotas in government jobs gathered in front of the central library around 10:30am under the banner "Anti-Discriminatory Students' Movement".
Meanwhile, all scheduled classes and examinations at public universities across the country have come to a halt since this morning, following the students' earlier announcement calling for a class and exam boycott starting today.
Cumilla University students block Dhaka-Ctg highway
The students of Cumilla University have blocked Dhaka-Chattogram highway as part of "Bangla Blockade" programme last afternoon (7 July), demanding the abolition of quota system in government jobs.
The protesting students gathered on the highway and staged the blockade around 4:00pm.
During the protest, they chanted slogans against the reinstatement of quota system in government jobs and demanded restoration of 2018 circular that abolished the quota system.
The students were also seen playing football on the road during the blockade programme.
Rajshahi University students protest against quota system
Rajshahi University students yesterday staged a demonstration with four-point demand including the abolition of the quota system in government jobs, and the reinstatement of the 2018 circular.
The students gathered at Paris Road at the university campus around 3:30pm.
They chanted slogans, sang protest songs, and recited poems.
The students stated that they aim to achieve their demands through peaceful activities, such as cultural programmes, rather than any form of anarchy or rash actions. They emphasized their commitment to remaining on the streets until their goals are met.
Students block Shibbari intersection in Khulna
Students have blocked the Shibbari Intersection, one of the most important areas of Khulna city, as part of "Bangla Blockade" programme demanding the cancellation of quotas in government jobs.
Students from various institutions in Khulna gathered and started the protest around 6pm and continued till 7pm.
They said all public universities will remain closed until their demands are met.
They also protested against the Prime Minister's statement on quota.
The blockade has caused long traffic jams.
Students in Barishal block roads wearing shrouds amid rain
Despite intermittent rain, students in Barishal have blocked several roads in the district wearing shrouds as part of the movement against quota.
Barishal University and Government Brojomohun College students are carrying out the 'Bangla Blockade' separately.
On the fifth consequtive day of the protest, students blocked Barishal-Kuakata highway was blocked around 11am yesterday (7 July), and from 12pm-1pm, the Dhaka-Barishal highway at the Natullabad bus terminal was blocked.
The movement of students has already disrupted the traffic on the Barishal-Kuakata-Dhaka highway.
Passengers of long-distance and local routes were suffering due to the blockade as students continued their position on the roads wearing shroud amidst intermittent rains, raising various placards and slogans demanding the abolition of the quota system.
"The state is discriminating its citizens by not arranging employment based on merit. We gained our country through the great Liberation War," said Nusrat, a protesting student.
"Our everlasting respect is for the children of the freedom fighters, many of whom are also part of this movement. Our sole demand is that jobs should be based on merit, not reserved quotas," she added.
Sujoy, another student in the protest, said, "Nowhere in the world does a country employ 56% of its job positions under a quota system. The government is mocking educated and talented youths by maintaining this quota system.
"We will continue our relentless protest against this," he added.
Since 2 June, university students have been holding sit-ins, organising marches and blocking roads and highways, demanding the cancellation of the High Court order restoring a 30% quota for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren in government jobs and demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 quota cancellation circular.
The quota problem: Over the years, the quota for freedom fighters was identified as a problem area because the required number of candidates could not be found in the category, data from 1982-1990 shows.
- In 1982, 7% of the quota was met against 30% allocation.
- The dip continued over the years.
- Against this background, the PSC recommended increasing merit and women's quotas.
- The government in 1997 extended freedom fighters' quota to include their descendants, making things even more complicated.
What students want: Students of Dhaka University held their latest protest against the reinstatement of quotas in recruitment for first- and second-class government jobs.
- They demand cancellation of the quota system.
- They want reinstatement of the 2018 law, which abolished freedom fighter quota in government jobs.
- They want a committee to repair the quota system.
- They want seats to be filled based on talent, not quota in instances the latter requirement doesn't produce enough candidates.
What experts say
"The quota is a special provision for underprivileged populations, and it's an exception. It can't be more than the merit provision." – Former PSC chairman Sadat Hossain said during the 2018 quota reform movement.
"During this period of ten years [1987-1997], committees constituted by the government and other studies sponsored by the government also recommended reduction of quota for freedom fighters. This request continued since 1987, but for ten years, the government remains silent on the issue." – AMM Shawkat Ali, a former bureaucrat and adviser to a caretaker government, in his book "Bangladesh Civil Service: A political-administrative perspective".
