Several protesters were injured during clashes in the movement styled 'Bangla Blockade', and the students and job-aspirants later in the day announced countrywide campus demonstrations for today (Friday) in protest.
In the meantime, the High Court's partial verdict on the quota dispute said the government can make changes and adjustments to the job quota, if necessary. Also says the reported HC verdict that "if quota is not filled, recruitment from merit list can be given".
"Agitating students broke through barricades put at Shahbagh intersection by police and fanned around chanting slogans," says a firsthand account of the scenes.
Earlier, protesters marched from the Dhaka University central library around 4:30pm as part of their Bangla Blockade programme against the reinstatement of quotas in government jobs.
Law-enforcers had taken position at the intersection and set up cordons following DMP's prior warning of "legal action" against protracted blockades.
As the students reached Shahbagh, police intercepted, leading to tussles. Some students were injured during clashes.
Thousands of protesters from Dhaka University and adjacent educational institutions took position at the Shahbagh crossroads after breaking off barricades.
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) also organised a rally at the Raju sculpture under the banner seeking a logical solution to the quota system and urging protesters to end their agitation. During the rally of the pro-government student organisation, a clash broke out between two factions of the Dhaka University (DU) unit of the BCL, resulting in injuries to several activists. The conflict arose over disputes regarding the location of the rally.
Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain criticized the ongoing anti-quota movement, accusing some participants of having "ulterior motives" and alleging that a faction of BNP- Jamaat axis is trying to prolong the agitation. He questioned whether the protesters aimed to "reform the quota or destabilize the country".
Earlier, at a press conference held at Madhu's canteen of DU, BCL leaders called for maintaining a stable academic environment, urging students to return to classes and exams without causing public disturbances.
Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) defied police cordons and university officials' advice, breaking the lock on the campus gate to block the Dhaka-Aricha highway. The blockade began around 4pm.
As part of a pre-announced programme, students planned to blockade the Dhaka-Aricha highway from 3 PM to 7 PM. They gathered in front of the central library at 3 PM and marched to the university gate, where they were halted by the proctorial team and police. Despite the gate being locked, the students broke through, ignored the police barricades, and occupied the highway, blocking both directions. They also tethered police water cannon to several trucks.
Earlier, hundreds of officers from Savar Highway Police Station and Ashulia Police Station were stationed on the Dhaka-Aricha highway near the university's main gate from 2:30 PM. Police had been on alert since noon but could not stop the agitating blockaders. They requested the students to end the programme within half an hour, but the students ignored the request and continued their protest until 7pm.
Sohagi Samia, a student protester, asserted that their logical movement cannot be halted by the police and vowed that the students of JU would ensure the success of their movement with full determination.
Ahsan Labib, a student from the Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Department, stated during the blockade, "Our demand is to reform the quota system and enact new legislation."
Arif Sohel, a student from the university's International Relations Department and convener of the 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' at JU, stated that today, the police tried to obstruct students from their duty post, but we persisted.
Around 4:30 PM Jagannath University (JnU) students broke through campus gates on the day to join the student blockade at Shahbagh intersection, protesting the reinstatement of the quota system in government jobs.
Earlier in the day, the JnU administration locked all campus gates to prevent students from protesting on the roads.
Before marching to Shahbagh, several hundred protesters gathered at Kathal Tala on the campus around 4:00pm for their scheduled programme.
The university's proctor, Jahangir Hossain, advised the students to go home instead of going to stage protest.
Protesting student Junayedul Islam said, "Today, we are protesting to press home our demands. When teachers protest for their interests, the administration remains silent. But when students protest, they block our protests. No matter the obstacles, we will not stop our movement."
Later, students broke through the gates and marched towards Gulistan and then Shahbagh.
At least 10 students suffered injuries as police charged protesters at She-e-Bangla Agricultural University with batons, protesters claimed.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Tejgaon zone Deputy Commissioner (DC) HM Azimul Haque told reporters that students were going to lay siege to Agargaon.
At least 20 people, including students and journalists, were injured after police cracked down on protesters in Cumilla University in the afternoon, protesters claimed.
Protesters have taken positions in the Kotbari area near the campus until evening.
Rajshahi University (RU) students blocked Rajshahi rail route at 6:15pm, protesting the attack on Cumilla University students by police during a blockade, demanding the abolition of quota in government jobs.
Agitating students gathered in the Station Bazar area and blocked the rail route.
Earlier, coordinators of the RU quota-reform movement at a press conference announced that they would go for a tougher movement if the quota system for public service is not removed.
In Dhaka, Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators, announced the demo programme at Shahbagh on behalf of the agitators at night.
He said, "Our movement has no connection with the High Court. Our demand is to convene an emergency session of parliament and pass a law to resolve the quota logically. The government is responsible for the public suffering caused by the movement."
Hasnat Abdullah said those who attacked in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Chittagong University, Cumilla University, Rajshahi University and Maulana Bhasani University should be brought to justice.
Sarjis Islam said students were attacked in different parts of the country. "We are doing a peaceful movement. If the flawed circular is reinstated, then what will HC do if the backward communities re-writ? We want a rational reform of this quota in all grades in Bangladesh government service, not only in grades I and II. It is our demand to solve the quota problem forever by logically reforming it.
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