Jahangirnagar University (JU) students formed a human chain in front of the university’s main gate adjacent to the Dhaka-Aricha highway on Friday. This protest was to press home their four-point demand, including the cancellation of the quota system in government jobs and the reinstatement of the 2018 circular. The demonstration marked the fifth consecutive day of their protest.
Earlier at 4 pm, students gathered on the Dhaka-Aricha highway near the university’s main gate, beginning their march from the university’s Martyrs’ Minar. The protesters strongly criticized the quota system and vowed to continue their movement until their demands were met.
The students’ four-point demands include reinstating the 2018 circular conditionally, forming a commission to promptly remove irrational and discriminatory quotas in government jobs (all grades), ensuring that quota benefits cannot be used multiple times, and filling vacant positions based on merit if no qualified candidates are found through quotas. They also called for effective measures to ensure a corruption-free, impartial, and merit-based bureaucracy.
During the human chain event, JU student Abdur Rashid Jitu said, “The government is trying to establish a smart Bangladesh, but a smart Bangladesh cannot be built through a discriminatory quota system which does not ensure the best talents. Our movement will not stop until we achieve our rights and the discriminatory quota system is abolished.”
Swapan Mahmud, a student from the Mathematics department, added, “We do not want the movement to prolong. The 2018 circular should be reinstated, and quotas in government jobs should be abolished. It is necessary to create a merit-based administration.”
Meher Afroz Shaoli, a student from the 49th batch of the Anthropology department, expressed concerns about the High Court’s use of power to oppress students. She noted that Obaidul Quader has claimed Jamaat-Shibir has infiltrated the movement, with the ruling group making efforts to thwart it.
“Those who see our peaceful program as a sign of weakness are mistaken. We will demonstrate our full strength if needed. Critics of our movement lack the spirit of the Liberation War,” said Touhid Siam, a student from the International Relations department.
Mahfuz Islam Megh, the secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, stated, “Our movement is a movement of the common people, not just specific students. Those who have come are all ordinary students. To those trying to negate our movement, don’t come to teach us about the spirit of independence. If there were a Liberation War today, those who are here would have come to fight.”
After the human chain event, Arif Sohel, the movement’s coordinator, detailed their upcoming activities. They plan to conduct outreach in all university halls on Saturday to increase support. Additionally, they will block the Dhaka-Aricha highway again on Sunday from 3 pm to 6 pm to continue their protest and highlight their cause.
