The anti-discrimination student movement leaders on July 10 last year vowed to continue their protests demanding quota reform despite the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court issued a status quo on the High Court order over retaining the quota in government jobs on the same day, reports BSS.
The apex court ordered the status quo for four weeks following two separate petitions, filed by the government and two Dhaka University (DU) students, challenging the HC judgment and asked the petitioners to file separate leave-to-appeal petitions and set August 7, 2024 for a hearing on those.
Following the ruling, the then chief justice had urged the student protesters to return home. But the protesting students vowed to continue their demonstrations until the government would form a commission to reform the quota system and pass a law in the parliament in this regard.
Sarjis Alam, a key-organiser of the anti-discrimination student movement, told protesters at the Shahbagh intersection on the evening of July 10 that they would relent only if they would get word from the highest executive position that the quota system would be reformed through a commission.
"We want the parliament to enact a law reforming the quotas," he said.
Besides, Asif Mahmud, another key-organiser, announced that they would continue the blockade from 3:30pm on July 11.
"The students from universities and colleges across the country will continue the Bangla Blockade programme from 3.30 pm tomorrow (July 11) by occupying highways and railways in their respective areas. In Dhaka, we will start the programme in front of the DU Central Library and spread to key intersections," Asif, now an adviser of the interim government, said.
Earlier, after a day's break, the student protesters resumed the "Bangla Blockade" around 10:30am on July 10, occupying key intersections, major highways and rail lines in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
As the road and rail communications were snapped, leaving commuters in utter distress, the day-long blockade brought the daily life in the capital Dhaka to a standstill while the epicenter of the protest was Shahbagh.
On the day, before 10:00 am, students from different residential halls of DU gathered in front of the Central Library and then marched in processions chanting quota-reform slogans.
From there, they in groups went to different key points and blocked those, including Shahbagh intersection, Karwan Bazar, Intercontinental intersection, Bangla Motor, Farmgate, Shikkha Chattar, Matsya Bhaban, Chankharpul, Chankharpul Flyover and Bongobazar.
Students from DU, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College and Sheikh Borhanuddin College took part in the blockade.
Jagannath University students blocked the Gulistan Zero Point and Paltan intersections from 10:00 am, shutting down traffic through Nur Hossain Square. Students from Dhaka College blocked the Science Lab intersection.
Jahangirnagar University students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway. Students from Government Titumir College blocked the Mohakhali section of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
Students from Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) and Rajshahi College blocked key roads in the Rajshahi region.
Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology blocked major roads including the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway.
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