Students making up the bulk of the movement demanding quota reform remained resolute in their demand that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina withdraw the reference to 'razakars' from remarks she delivered Sunday on the movement and its motivations.
It had caused campuses to erupt in a series of midnight demonstrations on Sunday itself, when already they came face to face with Chhatra League activists in some places, and clashed sporadically.
Students resumed their full-blown street agitation on Monday. Universities including Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University (JnU), Rajshahi University, and Chittagong University, along with various other public and private educational institutions, witnessed protests and demonstrations throughout the day, chanting various slogans against the quota system, or the general plight faced by jobseekers - including some from Sunday in which the government and its surrogates had seemingly missed the literary sense of irony.
From Monday morning, the campuses saw confrontations between Chhatra League, at times with Jubo League by its side, and quota reform activists. To maintain order, a significant police presence was deployed at the campuses.
Torch processions at RU and RUET
Several active student organisations at Rajshahi University organized torch processions on Monday night (July 15) to protest the brutal attacks on quota reform activists. The protest march began at 8.45 from Amtala square in the university's transportation market area, winding through the main roads of the university.
Earlier in the day, students from Rajshahi University and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology staged protests and sit-ins on Paris Road, demanding quota reforms and the retraction of statements made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Jagannath University Protest in Dhaka
In response to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks, students from Jagannath University (JnU) marched to the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University on Monday afternoon. Starting from 2pm, they rallied under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, exiting the main gate and heading towards TSC. They later joined Dhaka University students at 3.30pm, chanting the slogans such as “Asked for our rights, got branded Razakar," (in Bangla it rhymes, "Cheyechilam Odhikaar, hoye gelam Razakar").
Whether deliberately or not, this slogan was latched upon by the government to misconstrue members of the movement as proclaiming themselves to be Razakars, even proudly so. It was meant to resist the attempts to paint them as razakar, or their movement as political, through irony - which is clearly dead in Bangladesh.
Students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) held a protest march on Monday afternoon in response to a midnight attack by Chhatra League on quota reform activists. The protesters started from the university's main gate, marching through the campus to the residential female halls, where more students joined.
KU, KUET students block Zero Point
Khulna University students blocked the Zero Point intersection on Monday afternoon, protesting for quota reform and against the Prime Minister's remarks, as well as attacks on students nationwide. Starting at 5 pm, they were joined by students from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). This blockade halted traffic on the Khulna-Satkhira and Khulna-Dhaka-Bagerhat highways.
Barishal University students block Highway
Students from Barishal University (BU) took to the Dhaka-Barisal highway on Monday evening to protest the attacks on quota reform activists by the Chhatra League across the country. Starting at 7 pm, the blockade caused significant traffic disruptions, effectively cutting off Barisal from the rest of the country.
Police vigil at Begum Rokeya University
In Rangpur, at the Begum Rokeya University, police maintained a vigilant presence to prevent clashes between quota reform activists and Chhatra League members from the university, district, and city branches. The atmosphere on campus remained tense, with heavy police deployment at the park intersection near the university to avoid any disorder.
Comilla University students protest
Comilla University (CU) students held a protest march on Monday afternoon, demanding quota reforms and the retraction of the Prime Minister's statements. The march began at 3 pm from the student movement square, proceeding through the main gate to the university’s roundabout. Coordinator Md. Sakib Hossain stated that the Prime Minister's recent remarks insulted the quota reform activists, prompting the demonstration.
Islamic University Students Continue Protests
Quota reform activists at Islamic University (IU) resumed their protests on Monday afternoon, starting from Bot Tala and marching through the campus before gathering in front of the administrative building for a rally. Protesters demanded justice for an activist assaulted at the university’s Ziaur Rahman Hall.
JUST Students Protest
Students from Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST) started a protest march at 12 pm from Palbari, marching through significant roads to the District Commissioner’s office. They were joined by students from Government MM College. During the sit-in, quota reform movement leader Rashed Khan accused Chhatra League members of attacking the college students' procession, seizing their banners, and abducting organizer Masum.
Besides there are ongoing tensions or larger developments in other campuses like Jahangirnagar University in Savar and Chittagong University.
