Thousands of quota protesters take to streets as campuses across the country come alive with slogans
The protest comes hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference in Ganabhaban questioned the merit behind the demand to abolish the quota system for government jobs
University students protesting in demand of reforming the quota system for government jobs have brought out processions in their respective campuses across the country, including Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, at around 11:00pm Sunday (14 July).
DU students gather at TSC around 12am on 15 July.
The protest comes hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference in Ganabhaban questioned the merit behind the demand to abolish the quota system for government jobs pressed forth by students of various government universities currently participating in their movement.
“If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of Rajakars? That’s my question, the countrymen’s question,” she said.
The High Court, in the full text of its 5 June verdict centring the 2018 circular which abolished the quota system, said keeping the 30% quota for children of freedom fighters was binding upon the judiciary and also the state machinery as the issue was already settled by the Appellate Division in 2013.
The violation of the Appellate Division judgement would be contemptuous, the HC said in the full text of the verdict published Sunday.
We are ending our live updates for the night at 3:35am. Read the updates on the situation as it developed from 11:00pm Sunday.
3:30am
The injured student at JU has been identified as Labib Ahasan. He has been rushed to the university’s medical centre for treatment, reports our correspondent.
Labib Ahasan, a JU student injured in an attack allegedly carried out by members of BCL
3:10am
Members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League have allegedly attacked quota reform protesters at the Jahangirnagar University, protesters have claimed.
Videos published on social media show that clashes taking place between two groups. At least one person has been confirmed to have been injured in the incident.
2:44am
Members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League have allegedly attacked quota reform protesters at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. The attack took place at around 1:00am Monday, according to our correspondent. At least one student, identified as Delwar Hossain Shishi, who studies at the English Department of the university, was injured in the attack.
2:43am
Speaking about the protest on campus and the alleged attack by the Bangladesh Chhatra League on the protesters, University of Chittagong Proctor Prof Ahidul Islam told The Business Standard that he was informed that an attack had taken place.
“At around 11:00pm Sunday, quota reform protesters began demonstrating out of the blue. During the protest, they chanted slogans against the Prime Minister. In response, BCL members have reportedly attacked the protesters. 5-7 students were injured. Had the protesters informed us earlier about the demonstrations, this incident could have been avoided,” he said.
2:15 am
Detective Branch (DB) of Police Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid has joined the police in position at Shahbagh.
DB chief at Shahbagh
2:00am
Protesters in Chittagong Univ allege attack by Chhatra League
Chittagong University students gathered at their premises tonight. Photo: Collected
Protestors at the Chittagong University alleged that members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League showed up and attacked them, leaving at least four injured.
The students appeared in front of the main gate of Zero Point at around 11pm from different halls. They started chanting slogans criticising the “rajakar” comment by the premier. A half hour into the programme, BCL leaders allegedly attacked the protestors while trying to disperse them.
The protesting students claimed that the BCL men threw some crude bombs around. The police, however, were not present at the scene.
Russel, one of the coordinators of the anti-quota movement from Chittagong University, said, “We were ambushed during our programme. I don’t know who attacked us. Four of our students were injured. There is also a girl. Crude bombs exploded at the scene.”
In response, Partha Pratim Barua, former organising secretary of the Chittagong University Chhatra League, said, “I got here after the fight. But I heard the protestors were chanting slogans that go against our prime minister. So far, we never tried to stop their movement. We also wanted the quota issue to come to a resolution. But in a free country, slogans about ‘rajakar’ are not appropriate.”
University authorities have yet to make any comment on the matter. The proctor could not be reached, our correspondent says.
1:54am
Students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) joined the gathering at DU’s TSC area.
Buet students turned up at TSC.
1:50am
Protesters have begun to leave the TSC area of Dhaka University, our correspondent reports.
1:39am
Rajshahi University students have called off their brief blockade of the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway and are now going back to their halls, our correspondent reports from the spot. Protest coordinators have called for a gathering in front of the central library at 10:00am Monday.
1:20am
Khulna University students gather at the main gate of the university on 15 July midnight.
1:10am
Police deployed at Shahbagh intersection
Police officers take position at Shahbagh intersection of the capital as students gather at TSC, Dhaka University.
12:05am
Students of Barishal University bring out procession
Barishal University students bring out a procession on 15 July midnight.
12:00am
Students of Rajshahi University bring out a procession.
11:30pm
Three leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League, have resigned from their posts, reports Prothom Alo.
The students are Masum Shahriar, public relations and development secretary for Faculty of Social Sciences of Dhaka University, Ratul Ahamed Shraban, deputy secretary of Liberation War and research affairs for Education and Research Institute, and Ashiqur Rahman Jim, library and publication secretary for Faculty of Law.
11:10pm
Quota reform protesters at the Jahangrinagar University campus chanting slogans criticising a comment by PM Sheikh Hasina where she said, “If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of Rajakars?”
Videos have surfaced on social media of protestors gathering at the Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University campuses at around 11:00pm Sunday (14 July).
DU students gather in front of Bijoy Ekttor Hall at around Sunday midnight. Screengrab from video posted in Facebook
Students from the University of Chittagong in Chattogram, Comilla University in Cumilla, Islamic University in Kushtia have also brought out processions, our reporters confirmed from the spots.
