Anti-quota protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection again on Friday, demanding the cancellation of the government job quota system and reinstatement of a 2018 circular.
Although anti-quota protesters announced countrywide rallies on campuses in response to yesterday’s police action on students in several locations outside Dhaka, students of Dhaka University and Dhaka College blocked Shahbagh intersection around 5:20 pm.
Dhaka University students brought out a rally from the central library around 5:00 pm and gathered at Shahbagh intersection. Later, students of Dhaka College joined the protest.
Earlier on Thursday night, Nahid Islam, a spokesman for the quota movement, declared countrywide rallies on campuses.
The quota system, which reserved 56 percent of positions in government jobs for various quotas, was abolished in 2018. This decision was challenged in 2021 by descendants of freedom fighters, leading to a High Court ruling on June 5, 2024, declaring the abolition of the freedom fighters’ quota illegal.
The government subsequently applied to the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division to suspend the order.
Ghosts of anti-independence elements conspiring- Law Minister.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Advocate Anisul Huq said on Friday that ghosts of anti-independence elements are conspiring in the name of quota reform movement.
He said that the protesting students would leave the streets and return to classes following the decision of the highest court regarding the quota movement.
The law minister was speaking with journalists at Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura Railway Station.
Mentioning the responsibility of the government to protect lives and assets of the people the minister said, “If anyone creates any obstruction there, the government has to take action according to the law.”
Secretary of the Ministry of Law Golam Sarwar, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Police Superintendent Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain,were present.
