Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways

University students and job seekers lifted their five-hour blockade of key intersections in Dhaka on Sunday evening. This action, dubbed the 'Bangla Blockade', is a campaign demanding the cancellation of the quota system in public recruitment.
Before leaving, the protesters announced they would resume the blockade on Monday at 3:30 PM. They also called for a continuation of class and exam boycotts at colleges and universities across the country.
The blockade caused Dhaka traffic to grind to a near halt, disrupting commutes for many in the city. Students also briefly blocked major highways on Sunday, leading to long tailbacks.
On Sunday, a large number of Dhaka University students walked in a protest march. It started at the university's central library and proceeded to the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).
They then stopped at Shahbagh and blocked the intersection at 4:00 pm. By 6:00 pm, they also blocked Bangla Motor, Hotel Intercontinental and Karwan Bazar intersections. This left vehicles stranded on Panthapath, Farmgate and FDC-bound roads.
Passengers were forced to disembark from their vehicles and walk to their destinations. Some students were even seen playing games like Ludo, cricket and football in the empty streets of Shahbagh during the protest.
A group of Dhaka University students also took up positions at Chankharpul. Students from Dhaka University's Shahidullah Hall, Fazlul Haque Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall participated in blocking the area.
Dhaka College and Eden College students positioned themselves at Science Lab, Nilkhet and New Market, effectively blocking those areas. "Our movement will continue until the quota system is reformed," they declared.
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students blocked Mirpur-Agargaon-Farmgate and Shaymoli-Agargaon-Mohakhali roads. Kabi Nazrul Government College students took positions in Old Dhaka, halting traffic flow in areas like Tanti Bazar, Sadar Ghat and Ray Shaheb Bazaar.
Despite the blockade, the procession for the Hindu community's Rath Jatra festival was allowed to proceed along its designated route. The procession traveled from Iskcon Temple at Shamibagh to Dhakeshwari Temple in Bakshi Bazar via Shapla Chattar and Gulistan.
On Sunday morning, hundreds of students from Jahangirnagar University (JU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway near their campus for around two hours. They demanded the cancellation of the quota system in government jobs and the return to merit-based recruitment.
The protest began at 11:00 am with a procession in front of the central library. Students marched through various campus roads before reaching the highway near the main gate. They then blocked both lanes for two hours, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The blockade caused traffic congestion on the highway, inconveniencing commuters. The jam extended up to Hemayetpur on the Aricha-bound section and the Pallibidyut area on the Dhaka-bound section, leading to delays for passengers.
During the protest, students chanted slogans demanding equal opportunity and opposing discrimination.
Touhid Siam, joint convener of the JU Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that the movement would continue until their demands are met. He denied allegations linking the movement to Jamaat-BNP and said that it is a student-driven initiative.
He added that the movement would end immediately upon the fulfillment of their demands.
Nationwide protests
Students from other universities across the country joined the demonstrations on Sunday.
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway, beginning their protest by singing the national anthem.
Students from Islamic University blocked the Kushtia-Khulna highway from 11:30 am, using tree trunks to create a blockade. This caused several kilometres of traffic congestion on both sides of the Kushtia-Jhenaidah route.
Students from Comilla University and Comilla Victoria College blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
Government BM College students blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University students blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Haji Danesh University of Science and Engineering blocked the Dinajpur-Dhaka highway.
Disagreement within Dhaka University
Dhaka University students have reported being obstructed by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League party. Some students allege that BCL leaders prevented them from participating in the anti-quota movement.
The student wing of the ruling party launched their own programme and allegedly pressured students to attend. They were seen socialising at the Madhur canteen while offering alternative slogans.
The BCL reportedly threatened students with expulsion from their halls of residence for not attending BCL programmes.
DU BCL General Secretary Tanbir Hasan Saikat previously advised activists not to join the anti-quota movement, labeling it "anti-government" in a separate programme.
Tanbir Hasan Saikat, general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), defended the government's stance on quotas.
"No student will participate in any movement without our guidance," he said. "Those protesting at Shahbagh are exploiting the emotions of ordinary students. Their aim is not to achieve non-discrimination, but to bring down the government and implement their party's agenda. We will not allow this to happen."
Students vow to continue protests
However, students have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dismissed our demands and called the movement unjustified," a student coordinator said. "We left negotiations previously, but we are willing to return if our demands are addressed. This movement will not be suppressed."
Organizers at Shahbagh announced a revised strategy for their movement. They will continue the 'Bangla Blockade' programme but with a simplified demand.
"Our initial demands included four points," said Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator. "From now on, we will focus on a single demand: the cancellation of discriminatory quotas in all job grades. We also call for a minimum quota level for disadvantaged communities as defined by the constitution. This revised demand requires parliamentary approval."
The government abolished all quotas in grades one and two (formerly known as first and second-class jobs) in October 2018. This sparked protests from descendants of freedom fighters who benefited from these quotas.
In 2021, seven job seekers challenged the government's decision in court. The High Court subsequently issued a rule asking the government to justify its actions.
On June 5, 2024, the High Court ruled in favour of the quota system, prompting the recent student protests.

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