Quota protesters on Wednesday blocked highways and railways across the country and major intersections in the capital for the third day demanding abolition of quotas in government jobs.
They said that they will continue Bangla Blockade until the government gets a law passed by parliament to abolish quotas in government jobs.
Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of Anti-discriminatory Student Movement, on Wednesday announced that students and job aspirants will hold the countrywide Bangla Blockade (countrywide shut down from 3:30pm today.
The protesters rejected the Appellate Divisions month-long status quo on the High Court Divisions June 5 rule restoring quotas in government jobs.
They termed the status quo as eye-wash.
"The High Court Division had nullified the circular issued by the government in 2018 that abolished quotas in government jobs. We do not want to spend time in the corridors of the High Court Division on legal process. We want to continue our movement until our demand is met," Asif Mahmud said.
"The governments executive department must issue a clear statement on the issue. A commission should be formed to provide a permanent solution to this quota issue," he said.
Another coordinator Sarjis Alam demanded a permanent solution to the quota issue and said the solution will come only when a law is passed and by Parliament abolishing quotas in government jobs.
The protesters proposed a maximum of 5 per cent quota in government jobs for the children of freedom fighters, members of backward communities and persons with special needs.
On Wednesday, the protesters blocked major intersections in the capital including Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Hotel Intercontinental Intersection, Farmgate, Chankharpool, Bangabazar, Shikkha Chhattar, Matsya Bhaban, Zero Point, Gulistan, Nilkhet, Science Lab, Bakshi Bazar, Bangla Motor, Agargaon, Paltan, Rampura Bridge and Mohakhali.
Hundreds of Dhaka University students on Wednesday gathered in front of the DU Central Library at 11:00am and in a procession paraded different roads on the campus.
They blocked the Shahbagh Intersection at around 11:30am.
After eight hours, the blockade was lifted at around 7:30pm.
A section of the students halted the capitals rail connectivity with large sections of the country by blocking the Karwan Bazar level crossing at 12:00pm.
The rail communication was restored at 5:05pm.
Our Jahangirnagar University (JU) Correspondent reported that students of the university blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway demanding abolition of quotas in government jobs.
Under the banner of Anti-discriminatory Student Movement the protesters gathered at the JU Central Library premises on the campus at around 10:15am.
After a brief procession, they blocked both lanes of the Dhaka-Aricha Highway close their campus at around 10:30am.
The blockade was lifted after seven and half hours JU student Mahfuzul Islam Megh said, "We demand the parliament pass a law constituting a system that will provide maximum 5 per cent quota facilities to unprivileged, deprived and physically challenged persons."
Besides, a group of JU students staged a street theatre named Ekti Non-fiction as a part of the protest demonstration.
Our Jagannath University (JnU) Correspondent added that students of the university held a march procession towards Gulistan Zero Point at 3:15pm.
JnU students along with students of Kabi Nazrul Govt College and Govt Shaheed Sohrawardy College took position at the Zero Point at around 4:00pm.
JnU Accounting Student Mahfuz Hasan said, "We will not leave the streets until our demands are met. We are being deprived in every way because of the quota system."
Our Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Correspondent reported that SUST students blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj road close to their campus at around 11:00am.
Protesters moved away from the street at 5:00pm.
Students of Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology and Rajshahi College blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway for four hours from 12:00pm.
Anti-quota protesters blocked the Kotbari section of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Comilla at 11:00am.
Students from various educational institutions, including Comilla University and Comilla Victoria Government College participated in the protest.
Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway for the fourth day as part of the nationwide daylong Bangla Blockade programme.
They blocked Tista Express train bound for Dewanganj from Dhaka at 10:45 am.
Students of Pabna University of Science and Technology blocked Dhaka-Pabna highway for three hours.
Students of Barishal University put a barricade on the highway close to their campus at around 12: 30pm while students of Government BM College blocked Nathullahbad area near the Central Bus Terminal at around 12:00pm.
Students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (Duet) blocked the railway track with a red flag at Joydebpur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line at 11:45am.
Students from the Chittagong University and its affiliated colleges staged a major anti-quota protest, blocking roads at the Tigerpass Intersection and railways under the Dewanhat Over Bridge in Chattogram city.
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University students blocked Dhaka-Dinajpur Highway at 11:00am.
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University students blocked Dhaka-Myemnsingh Highway at Trishal Bus Stand area at 3:00pm Public university students have been demonstrating on their respective campuses by blocking highways and railways since July 1, to press home their demand of introduction of merit-based recruitment and abolition of quotas in government jobs.
In the wake of a mass movement in 2018, the Public Administration Ministry issued a circular on October 4 abolishing quotas in first and second class government jobs.
Following a writ petition, the High Court Division on June 5, 2024 declared as invalid the circular issued in 2018 cancelling Freedom Fighters quota in government jobs.
On July 4, the Appellate Division upheld the decision of the High Court Division.
