Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for half an hour, demanding the reformation of the quota system in government jobs and the restoration of the 2018 circular.
The protesters warned of a daylong blockade on Wednesday if the Appellate Division’s hearing does not meet their demands. Their primary demand is the abolition of unreasonable and discriminatory quotas in all grades, reducing quotas to the minimum level for backward groups mentioned in the constitution, and amending the quota system through parliamentary legislation.
The blockade began at 3:45pm on Tuesday, with hundreds of students gathering in front of the university’s main gate. The demonstration caused a long traffic jam from Radio Colony to Nabinagar, although students allowed ambulances to pass. The blockade ended after 45 minutes, and traffic resumed.
Agitating student Ahsan Labib stated, “If the hearing goes against us tomorrow (Wednesday), we will immobilize all of Bangladesh if necessary.”
JU Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Joint Convener Zahidul Islam Imon emphasized, “We do not want to cancel the quota, but to reform it. If our demands are not met, we will block the highway for a day from tomorrow.”
Another Joint Convener, Tauhid Siam, added, “Our movement is the movement of the masses. We will continue our agitation until our demands are met.”
In addition to the protest and blockade, students from 34 departments and three institutes at the university boycotted classes and examinations, vowing not to return until their demands are addressed.
