University and college students participating in the "Bangla Blockade" programme, demanding reform of the quota system in government jobs, are set to announce their next move on Saturday afternoon.
The anti-quota protesters continued their pre-scheduled programmes at various university campuses on Friday, with an additional demand for justice regarding the reported police attacks on activists.
Meanwhile, police administration and government policymakers have suggested that the students are attempting to challenge the government. They have encouraged the protesters to follow the law, address the matter in court, and return to their classrooms.
Abu Baker Majumdar, a key organiser of the protests, stated that all coordinators from campuses nationwide would consult both online and offline to decide on their next plan.
"We will then announce it in a press conference today (Saturday) at 6pm in front of the Dhaka University (DU) Central Library," Majumdar said.
Protests in Dhaka
Earlier, Dhaka University students held a protest rally and blocked the Shahbagh crossing in response to Thursday's police action on students outside Dhaka. The DU students gathered in front of the central library around 4pm and brought out a protest rally, which later moved to Shahbagh and blocked the crossing.
At around 4:30pm, students from Dhaka College joined the DU students at Shahbagh, chanting slogans for justice. The demonstration ended around 6:20pm, with Majumdar announcing Saturday's programme before leaving Shahbagh.
Protests outside Dhaka
Rajshahi University (RU) students blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi railway line to demand quota reforms in government jobs and justice for the alleged attacks on protesters on Friday.
Similar demonstrations took place at Khulna University and Chittagong University.
RU students obstructed the rail tracks near the Station Bazar area around 5pm, cutting off Rajshahi's rail communication with the rest of the country.
Chittagong University students began a protest march at 5pm from the city’s Sholashahar railway station, joined by job aspirants from various institutions in Chattogram.
Comilla University students have renamed the site of the alleged police attack as "Chhatra Andolan Chatto" (Student Movement Square). This renaming was declared after a procession around 4:30 pm on Friday, meant to commemorate the alleged police attack on students.
The students issued an ultimatum to the authorities, demanding the removal of the proctor within 48 hours and the suspension of the policemen involved in the attack.
At least 20 individuals were reportedly injured during a confrontation between Comilla University students and the police on Thursday, as part of the “Bangla Blockade” programme in Comilla.
Official statements
Government officials and senior Awami League leaders stated that if the protesters genuinely wanted to abolish the quota system, they would have left the streets on Wednesday after the Supreme Court's order to halt the High Court's decision to reinstate the quota system. However, the protesters blocked the road on Thursday.
The government believes that the leaders of the quota movement are attempting to create challenges for the administration. Consequently, the government has decided to take measures to ensure the movement does not escalate.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman warned at an event in Segunbagicha that the police would not tolerate any violation of the law.
"Everyone has an obligation to follow the court order, so police will not accept any violation of the law," he said. Rahman emphasised that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has given a one-month stay on the High Court's judgement on the quota system in government jobs.
"Everyone should have faith in the court and comply with its orders," he added.
Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq stated that the rule of law should prevail and urged everyone to seek legal solutions.
"If the quota reform protesters want to raise their arguments in court, the Appellate Division has said it would listen. There should be no further movement or arguments; only the rule of law should prevail," he said at a function in the capital.
Anisul called on the students to return to their classrooms, noting that they could raise their points at the Appellate Division on August 7.
The quota system, which reserved 56 per cent of positions in government jobs for various quotas, was abolished in 2018. This decision was challenged in 2021 by descendants of freedom fighters, leading to a High Court ruling on June 5, 2024, declaring the abolition of the freedom fighters' quota, which accounted for 30 per cent, illegal.
The government subsequently moved the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division to suspend the High Court order. On Wednesday, the Appellate Division issued an order to maintain the status quo for a month on the High Court's judgement to reinstate the freedom fighter quota system for first and second-class government jobs.
