Students and job seekers, protesting against the quota system reinstatement in government jobs, have announced plans to submit a memorandum to President Mohammed Shahabuddin, and organise a mass march across the country on Sunday.
Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon coordinator Hasnat Abdullah announced the event on Saturday evening at a press conference in Dhaka University central library area.
Hasnat said, “To demand a logical reform in all grades of government jobs, we will organise a mass march at 11am on Sunday from DU central library and give a memorandum to the president.”
“Along with the Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, seven DU-affiliated colleges, and other institutes of Dhaka will participate in the mass march.
“Besides, all institutions of the country outside Dhaka city will hold the mass march, and submit a memorandum to the president through their respective district deputy commissioner (DC),” he added.
Meanwhile, a case has been filed at Shahbagh Police Station against quota protesters over "obstructing police work" and "vandalism" in Dhaka's Shahbagh. Transport supervisor Khalilur Rahman of Rajarbagh Police Lines filed the case at Shahbagh Police Station last Friday night.
In this regard, Nahid Islam, another coordinator, said, "False cases have been filed against the protesting students. We are giving an ultimatum to withdraw this false case within the next 24 hours.
“Moreover, we demand that those who attacked the students on that day be identified and brought to justice within the next 24 hours. Student strike and class boycott will continue. If our demands are not met within the stipulated time, we will be forced to go for tougher movement.”
BCL starts door-to-door campaign
The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has started a “Policy Advocacy and Door to Door campaign” to understand what “general students think about quotas in government job recruitment and what they want.”
This information was shared at a press release signed by BCL President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
Saddam said, “BCL will distribute leaflets containing various information, and organise open discussions as part of efforts to avoid programmes that cause public inconvenience.”
