Students enforce blockade today

University students and job seekers block Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Saturday, protesting the reinstatement of the quota system in public recruitment. The demonstration caused traffic disruption in the area. The protesters later dispersed in the afternoon, announcing a larger demonstration in front of city educational institutions on Sunday. Story on page 1 — FE Photo

The agitating students of Dhaka University (DU) have announced 'Bangla blockade' in the capital and elsewhere in the country for today (Sunday) in protest against the reinstatement of freedom fighters' quota in government jobs.

The tougher programme was announced from a protest rally at Shahbagh in the capital on Saturday.

Hundreds of DU students brought out a procession from the central library and blocked the road at Shahbagh intersection for one and a half hours, halting traffic.

The protesters shouted slogans 'Quota or Merit? Merit, Merit' and 'no room for discrimination in Golden Bangla'.

Nahid Hasan, a coordinator of the anti-quota movement, announced this blockade programme.

"We'll block not only Shahbagh and but also important points in the capital. Students outside Dhaka will block highways in districts."

He threatens, "If our demands are met, we will announce tougher programmes."

The government is behaving irresponsibly by making the students and the court stand face to face, Nahid alleges.

However, BCL leaders and activists stayed alert in Modhur Canteen on the DU campus at that time.

Earlier, DU students announced boycott of all classes and examinations at public universities.

The government on 04 October 2018 abolished all types of quota in class one and two government jobs, triggering protests by descendants of freedom fighters.

Later in 2021, seven job-seekers filed a writ petition  challenging the government decision.

Upon hearing the petition, the High Court on 07 December 2021 issued a rule asking the government to explain why the decision taken by them should not be declared illegal.

After hearing on the rule, the High Court bench on June 5 declared the rule absolute.

JU correspondent adds: A large number of Jahangirnagar University students staged a protest march on the same issue.

The protesters announced a blockade on the Dhaka-Aricha highway from 11:00am to 1:00pm today. They also announced boycott of all classes and examinations.

Mahfuz Islam Megh, member secretary of the Anti-Discriminatory Students Movement, told the FE, "The student movement will continue until our demands are met."

In another development, students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for around two hours on Saturday, demanding cancellation of quota system in government jobs, UNB says.

The blockade halted traffic on both sides of the highway, resulting in huge traffic gridlock and causing immense suffering for passengers.

Tangail Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sharif said, "After hearing the blockade news, we went there and talked to students. Then students lifted the blockade peacefully."