Protesters demanding reinstatement of the 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren in class-I and class-II government jobs continued their demonstration for 5th consecutive day at Shahbagh intersection in the city on Sunday.
Their demonstration disrupted traffic causing immense suffering to the commuters.
They started sit-in blocking Shahbagh intersection hours after the cabinet endorsed scrapping the quotas for freedom fighters' wards in the two categories of government service on Wednesday.
Their agitation took more vigorous turn as the Public Administration Ministry issued a circular abolishing the quotas in public service on Thursday.
Muktijoddha Sangsad Sontan Command, a platform of freedom fighters' children, and some 13 other organisations which started the sit-in called a fresh indefinite countrywide blockade on Saturday.
Besides, people with physical disabilities started a separate programme at the same place demanding 05 per cent quota in the class-I and class-II government jobs, which was earlier one per cent.
As of 7:00pm on Sunday, the students demanding reinstatement of the quota for the people with disabilities continued their agitation at Shahbagh intersection and the protesters in favour of 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters' children continued their protest in front of National Museum.
Those demonstrating for the quota for freedom fighters' children vowed to continue their protest until their demand is met.
The demonstrators also placed other demands that include establishing constitutional rights of the freedom fighters' families and enactment of a law to ensure their security, stopping requirement of the children of those who opposed the country's independence in the public service and confiscating their properties.
A M Russel Ahmed, chairman of Muktijuddher Sangsad Sontan Online Command, told the FE that to keep up the spirit of Liberation War and to ensure protection of the freedom fighters' families, it is a must to reinstate the 30 per cent quota in government jobs.
"Our sit-in will continue until the demands are met," he said, urging the government to meet the demands without any delay.
On the other hand, the quota reform seeking students under the banner of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad at a press conference on the Dhaka University campus on the day said what they demanded was logical reformation of the quota system, not its abolition.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police South Joint Commissioner told the FE in reaction to people's sufferings "When protesters take to the streets, especially at Shahbagh intersection, we cautiously look into the situation."
"To avert public suffering during any such agitation programme, we manage to keep traffic flow uninterrupted through the adjoining diversion roads," he added.
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