.webp)
University and college students, demonstrating against quotas in government jobs as part of their "Bangla Blockade" programme, blocked the Shahbagh, Bangla Motor and Science Lab intersections, along with other areas outside Dhaka on Monday, pledging to continue their protest against the High Court ruling reinstating the quota system.
Several thousand students from different universities and colleges, including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College, joined the demonstrations.
The protesting students gathered in front of the Dhaka University Central Library and started a procession around 3:30pm. They blocked the Shahbagh intersection at 4pm.
Another group of students blocked the Chankharpul intersection near Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover around 3:30pm.
Students from Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College blocked the Science Lab area around 3:50pm.
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students blocked the road near their university at Agargaon at about 4:15pm while students from other educational institutions blocked the Paltan intersection in the capital at about 5pm.
Dhaka commuters suffered severe traffic gridlock in the areas surrounding the demonstrations, with vehicles stuck in long queues, causing widespread frustration and inconvenience for the public.
All scheduled classes and examinations at public universities across the country were halted from Monday morning following the students' earlier announcement calling for a boycott.
HC ruling sparks outrage
After nearly six years, the High Court last Friday ruled that scrapping the 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters and their descendants was illegal.
Taking to the streets, the students stated they will continue their movement against the reinstatement of the quota system.
Their demands include the cancellation of the quota system, the reinstatement of the 2018 circular that abolished the freedom fighter quota in government jobs, the formation of a committee to reform the quota system, and that seats be filled based on talent, with no quota applied if it does not produce enough candidates.
The protested students formed a 65-member committee to conduct their movement, with 23 co-coordinators and 42 assistant co-coordinators.
Nahid Islam, the first co-coordinator, told The Business Post that the movement might be prolonged as they have not received any proposal from the government. "Everyone will have separate responsibilities to run the movement," Nahid said.
JU students ratify protest until ‘quota’ ended
Jahangirnagar University students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway for four hours, demanding the cancellation of the decision to restore quotas in government jobs and the upholding of the 2018 circular.
Students began gathering at the main entrance of the university at 3pm on Monday, demanding the abolition of all types of quotas in all grades of government jobs, reported the JU correspondent of The Business Post.
Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, creating a severe traffic standstill. The traffic flow returned to normal at 7pm when the students lifted the blockade.
Jahidul Islam Emon, the joint convener of the student movement, stated that students at all levels supported their movement. He affirmed that their protest would continue until the discriminatory quota system is abolished.
Protest outside capital
Students from Rajshahi University blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi railway line, demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular that scrapped the quota system for government jobs.
The protesters formed a human chain at Paris Road, near the Rajshahi city’s Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Senate Building, at 11am on Monday. They later marched through the university’s Paschim Para and took positions on the Dhaka-Rajshahi railway line near Meherchandi via Tutbagan.
Chanting slogans against the High Court's decision, the protesters insisted that government job recruitment should be based on merit, not quotas.
Around 600 students of the university participated in the blockade to press their four-point list of demands, which includes reforms to the quota system.
Kushtia’s Islamic University (IU) students also blocked the Kushtia-Khulna Highway, declaring that their protest will continue until their demands are met.
Students from the University of Barishal blocked the Barishal-Kuakata Highway at around 12pm. The blockade was withdrawn at 3pm.
