Students, who have been holding blockades and demonstrations for weeks seeking rational reform of the quota system for government jobs, on Sunday declared a 24-hour ultimatum for accepting their one-point demand and taking concrete steps towards its implementation.
They have also demanded the withdrawal of a case filed against students within the same period.
Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon leaders made the announcement to reporters at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue intersection after handing over a memorandum to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
At the press conference, the leaders stated, “We have submitted our memorandum to the president's military secretary. In the next 24 hours, an emergency session of parliament should be called and a law should be formulated.
“We have mentioned in the memorandum that all kinds of unreasonable and discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs should be cancelled and a 5 per cent quota should be reserved for the marginalised as per the constitution. We hope his excellency will take urgent steps to enact the law.”
Protest leaders demand parliament session
Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, said, “We have given a memorandum to the president on our single demand. We have demanded that a parliament session be called within the next 24 hours.
“We want to see this tangible step. We could not be stopped today. We do not want to resort to a tougher movement. We want our demands to be accepted with quick, concrete steps. We will monitor the situation for 24 hours and then announce our next programme accordingly.”
Nahid added, “We are giving 24 hours more for the case against students to be withdrawn. Otherwise, we will hold everyone accountable and launch a stronger movement.”
Another coordinator, Sarjis Alam, added, “We have informed the president's military secretary that the 5 per cent quota for minorities and the disabled should be retained, but the remaining quotas should be abolished. We hope the president will consider our demands.”
Twelve coordinators of the anti-quota movement entered Bangabhaban and submitted a memorandum to the military secretary to the president (MSP) under police escort from a public march at 2:40pm and left at 3pm on Sunday.
During this time, the procession held a standing programme at the turn near Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.
The main coordinators of the movement, Asif Mahmud, Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam, Arif Sohel, Nidra, Sumaiya, Ashik, Kader, Mahin, Hasib, Hannan Masud, and Sifat, entered the Bangabhaban premises.
Mass march to Bangabhaban, case filed
Earlier, thousands of students from various educational institutions in Dhaka started their march towards Bangabhaban from the Dhaka University Central Library, demanding quota reform.
The march was organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
The pre-announced event commenced at 12pm, heading towards the presidential residence, Bangabhaban. Before the procession, students from different institutions began gathering in front of the Dhaka University Central Library at 11am.
Participants included students from Jagannath University, Dhaka College, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and the seven affiliated colleges of Dhaka University.
All the students demanded a merit-based system for well-paid and highly competitive civil service jobs.
“It is a do-or-die situation for us,” protest coordinator Nahid Islam said during marches.
Meanwhile, students from Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Comilla University, and Barishal University submitted memoranda to the deputy commissioners to meet their demands.
A case was filed against “unidentified” students, accusing them of vandalising police vehicles during the ongoing protest demanding quota reform in government jobs on Friday.
The case was lodged by Khalilur Rahman, a driver from the transport department of Rajarbagh Police Lines, at the Shahbagh Police Station.
Home minister, prime minister’s response
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, in response to the filed case against students, said on Sunday that the case could be dismissed if found to lack merit.
“Anyone can file a lawsuit if aggrieved. If the investigation reveals no merit to the case, it will get automatically cancelled, regardless of whether it takes 24 hours or 24 days,” he said while addressing reporters at an event at Shilpakala Academy.
The home minister noted that there is a pending Supreme Court order regarding the quota system, with a hearing scheduled for August 8. “The students were asked to be present during the hearing, but instead, they chose to block roads. The issue is now under judicial review,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the protests, saying the matter had been settled by the court.
“Students are wasting their time,” Hasina told female activists from her party on Sunday. “After the court's verdict, there is no justification for the anti-quota movement,” she added.
The HC order behind all
The High Court on June 5 ordered the government to retain the 30 per cent freedom fighter quota in government jobs.
It also declared illegal the circular issued on October 4, 2018, cancelling the quota system.
Soon after the order, students announced their non-stop movement.
The quota system was introduced through an executive order in 1972 and has been amended several times.
