Agitating students of universities and colleges on Wednesday rocked the country in demand of a decision of the Prime Minister to reform quota system in government jobs. However, as the government head angrily opined for abolition of quota, the protesters said that they would clear their stand today (Thursday) at 10:00am after a press conference.
The movement for quota reform spread across the country on Wednesday after the agitating students mended their split on Tuesday afternoon following the controversial statement of Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.
The protesters including students of Dhaka University, private universities and colleges, blocked the roads in the capital bringing the lives of the city dwellers to a standstill. At the same time, agitating students blocked highways and railways in many parts of the country, to drum up support for quota reform.
As the movement reached its peak on Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Saifur Rahman Sohag, General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain met Prime Minister who told them that the quota system will be abolished.
However, agitating students said they never demanded abolition, always demanded quota reform.
Currently, there is 56 per cent quota, including 30 per cent for freedom fighters and their progeny, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for district level, 5 per cent for ethnic minorities and 1 per cent for physically disabled persons.
Earlier on the day, agitating students of DU gathered at the foot of Razu Sculpture around 10:00am to intensify the movement as per their previous announcement on Tuesday night. At the same time, students of public, private universities and colleges blocked important city roads.
As the movement was geared up, DU VC Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman at noon in a press briefing announced the quota reform movement is logical and then DU Teachers Association President Maksud Kamal addressed the protesting students expressing solidarity with the agitating student and later issued a press statement in this regard.
DUTA in its statement urged the law enforcement agencies not to attack students during their peaceful movement.
Earlier, Jahangirnagar University VC Farzana Islam and JU Teachers Association, JU BCL supported the quota reform movement.
The agitating students on Tuesday night declared to observe blockade, boycott of classes and exams at every public and private university and college across the country for an indefinite period from Wednesday, until the Prime Minister comes up with specific decision on quota reform as demanded.
They observed blockade on every campus of educational institutions from 10:00am to 7:00pm.
In the city, Jagannath University students blocked some roads in old Dhaka. The university unit of BCL President Tarikul Islam and General Secretary Sheikh Zainul Abedin with a group expressed solidarity with the movement.
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students took positions at the Agargaon intersection, blocking traffic at Rokeya Sharani and Mirpur Road, our correspondent reported.
Students from Eden Mohila College and Home Economics College blocked the New Market intersection around 10:45am while students from Daffodil University locked the eastern side of Dhanmondi Road 27. Asia Pacific University students blocked traffic on Green Road and Panthapath. Students from a private medical college have blocked one section of the Moghbazar road.
Students of Asia Pacific University blocked the Bangla Motor and Ruposhi Bangla intersections. Students of North South, united International, Independent University and AIUB blocked Pragati Sharani while students of Ahsanullah and South East University blocked Nabisco University.
Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) are protesting at the Mirpur-10 square.
In Habiganj, BCL attacked agitating students while police in Munsiganj obstructed in the quota reform movement.
Around 1,500 students blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of their main gate since 10:30am, and the students boycotted classes, exams, our JU correspondent reported.
In Chittagong, the protesters blocked roads near Chittagong University and the students of the varsity halted the shuttle train taking position at the railway station at Sholoshahar. They also boycotted classes and examinations.
Students from Chittagong University and various other educational institutions including Premier University, port city university, BGC Trust university joined the agitation.
The protesters brought out a procession on the campus around 8 am as part of their scheduled programme and took to the streets and railway tracks over the issue. They had held a 10-hour obstruction programme before dispersing after a faction of Dhaka University protesters halted their demonstrations.
The Dhaka-Rajshahi highway got blocked by the students of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), our Rajshahi correspondent reported. Students of Varendra University (Private) joined with the RUET students with a procession on the same highway.
Over 6,000 students staged agitation at Rajshahi University main gate and they also staged a sit-in on the Dhaka Rajshahi highway.
Some students of Rajshahi College joined the agitation of RU students as BCL leaders foiled their attempt to stage domo at their campus. Students of North Bengal International University (Private) also joined there. Most of the classes and examinations were boycotted by the students.
