Thousands of students of Rajshahi University (RU) blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway demanding reform of existing quota system in government job sector.
The students demonstrated in front of the main gate of the campus on Monday morning as part of pre-announced class boycotting program.
The Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway blockade program and the movement is still running, causing a huge traffic jam. The University’s buses are also not moving on the roads.
There was no news of classes held in any department. The class boycotting program announcement was given Sunday night.
RU unit convener of the Quota reform movement, Masud Munnaf, said the law enforcement agencies attacked on peaceful programs across the country. In the context, the announcement of the silent program of indefinite class boycott has been announced.
RU Proctor Professor Lutfar Rahman said although no class is held in any department, the declared examinations have been taken in some departments.
Proctor also said, in the morning, the quota protesters have blocked the highway. They assured us a peaceful movement. Again, they have announced that if any one of them tries to create a violence, they will hand him over to the police.
Earlier on Sunday, a protest procession was carried out at the university's Zoha Chattar at 1:00 pm. During the procession, the protesters blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway for one and a half hours after going to the main gate. During this time the students set fire to the streets. Later on midnight, they lifted the blockade on the highway and returned to the campus.
On the other hand, the students of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) demonstrated for the same demand. On Monday, they brought out procession, formed human chain and blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway.
No classes were held in any department of RUET. But the pre-scheduled exams were taken in some of the departments.
The students of Law and English Department of Varendra University also formed a human chain in the same demand.
The demands of the protesters are: reserving 10 percent quota instead of 56 percent, recruitment from merit list if there is no eligible candidate in the quota, quota advantage in job recruitment not more than one time for a person, there should be no any special recruitment test to fulfill quota and fixing the same age for the job.
