Student protesters of the contentious freedom-fighter job quota have announced to the media their plan to boycott all classes and examinations at public universities from Sunday.
To this end, they launched an online campaign on Friday, the fourth day of the countrywide protest, demanding the abolition of the quota system and the retention of merit-based recruitment.
Class representatives of all departments and batches announced that they would boycott classes and exams until their demands were met.
Meanwhile, a protest march will be taken out from all universities and colleges at 3:00 pm today (Saturday). A strike will be observed tomorrow (Sunday) amid boycott of class tests.
Nahid Hasan, a sociology student at Dhaka University, said the student society would not accept this quota system. "We will continue our protest before pressing home our demands."
On the other hand, BCL leaders and activists continued to threaten general students not to participate in the movement without their permission.
A Rokeya Hall student told the FE that the student politicians warned the participants of throwing out of their respective halls.
Earlier, BCL leaders and activists took position outside different dormitories of several halls on the DU campus to prevent students from joining the protest.
Sharjis Alam, one of the anti-quota spearheads, was reportedly forced to vacate Amar Ekushey Hall around 10:00 pm on Thursday. He claimed Chhatra League leaders forced him to leave the dorm.
Our JU correspondent adds: Jahangirnagar University (JU) students also staged a protest the same day.
They announced a student strike for Sunday. They also declared the boycott of classes, exams and academic activities, urging their fellows to join them in the protest.
The Friday's protest included a march and a human chain, with students warning of further action, including blocking Dhaka-Aricha highway.
The protesters also called for the formation of commissions to remove discriminatory quotas, ensuring they benefit only disadvantaged groups.
Additionally, they seek a one-time quota usage limit in government exams, with vacancies filled based on merit.
Lastly, they urge the implementation of measures to create a corruption-free, impartial and merit-based bureaucracy.
Towhid Siam, an IR student, criticised the High Court's decision to uphold the quota system, calling it 'divisive and against the interests of the people'.
"Various forces are attempting to thwart the movement by labeling it contrary to the spirit of the liberation war. But our movement embodies the true spirit of freedom fighters and seeks to eliminate discrimination."
Earlier on June 05, the High Court declared illegal a government decision that abolished freedom fighter quota in class one and two government jobs.
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.
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