Dhaka University (DU) students have been leading the ongoing anti-quota movement. DU Sociology student Nahid Islam, English student Hasnat Abdullah and Zoology student Sarjis Alam are three key coordinators of the movement, among others.
It is learnt that they have adopted the approach that was pursued during the Quota Reform Movement in 2018.
Some student organisations have been backing up the movement, specially Democratic Students Force (DSF), Bangladesh Students Federation and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, said sources.
Conversely, protesters said all student bodies joined the students protest demonstration openly, keeping their own party banners aside.
Bangladesh Students Rights Council (BSRC) led the 2018 movement which created Nurul Haque Nur, now Convener of the Gana Odhikar Parishad.
Nur later on was elected Vice President of DU Central Students Union (DUCSU) in 2019.
Nahid Islam was a BSRC leader.
Due to disintegration in the BSRC, Nahid along with former DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary Akhter Hossain and a bunch of BSRC leaders resigned from the party and founded DSF.
Nahid is now the central Member Secretary of the DSF convening committee.
Hasnat Abdullah had no reported political affiliation.
Sarjis Alam was elected member of Amar Ekushey Hall Students Union from the BCL panel.
Hasnat Abdullah told the Daily Observer that regardless of political identities, all students have joined the movement out of their duty.
"This is the struggle for establishing a fair recruitment system in government jobs. Everyone joined us forgetting their political views. This is the fight of all, not of any particular party," Hasnat said.
DSF Convener and also former DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary Akhter said, "The students movement articulates the fundamental principles of liberation war and constitutional equality. As an activist and law student, I fully support this movement. If the government wishes, they can seek endorsement for it in Parliament. We are not heading to court, but the government should responsibly address the students unified demand."
"An organisation is formed with the assurance of working for students beyond political tailism. Even without formal organisational banners, many students like Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud are actively participating in the movement for the sake of students rights," said Akhter.
JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib said, "The Quota Reform Movement is logical and we express solidarity with the protesters."
"The quota issue was a solved issue. But the government has resurrected it using the judiciary. We have instructed our leaders and activists to join the protest programmes beside the general student," said Rakib.
Former DUCSU VP Nur said the reinstatement of quotas in government is some sort of fraudulence with students.
"I fully support the students movement," said Nur.
On July 7, left-leaning student bodies held a press conference at DU Madhur Canteen, expressing solidarity with the quota protesters.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union President Rageeb Nayeem said, "We could have launch separate programmes with separate rallies. We did not do that. Rather we joined the protesters as general students. The movement is logical."
