Bangla Blockade: RU, Ruet students block Dhaka-Rajshahi highway
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They sought logical reform of the quota system
The students of Rajshahi University (RU) and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) are staging protests and blocked highway against the High Court's decision on quota allocations in government jobs for first- and second-class positions within a month.
They have blocked the Rajshahi to Dhaka highway at Choddopai area from Wednesday afternoon.
University students held rallies with national flags and placards opposing quotas on Paris Road of the university on Wednesday at 11am.
After the rally, they blocked the highway in front of the main gate of the university at 12pm.
More than half of the students of Ruet participated in the rally along with the march towards the bypass of Bihasa in the Choddopai area.
At around 12pm, they protested in front of the main gate and left for the bypass road in the Bihas area of the Chaudpai area.
The students have chanted various slogans against quota.
Amanullah Khan, another coordinator of the quota reform movement at Ruet, said: "We have to issue a new letter through the responsible department by accepting the logical demand of quota reform in all types of government jobs.
“Until the demand is met, we will continue the movement on the road," he added.
RU students have been protesting against the demand for quota reform since June 6.
Earlier, on July 4 and 6, the students of the university blocked the highway in front of the main gate. Later, on July 8, the students also blocked the Rajshahi to Dhaka railway line. In addition, they have been protesting against quota reform in various ways every day.
On Wednesday, from morning till afternoon, the students of the Pabna University of Science and Technology (Pust) participated in the boycott movement against the anti-discrimination protest in Bangladesh as part of the Bangla Blockade program.
At this time, all types of traffic movements have been stopped on the Dhaka-Pabna highway. Police are on alert to prevent any unpleasant incidents.
The Pust students said that there is no place for discrimination in Bangabandhu's Golden Bengal. They want quota reform, not quota abolition. Let there be a quota of 3 to 5% altogether.
Nawabganj Sadar Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rawsan Ali said: "The students' movement is ongoing. Police are on alert to prevent any unpleasant incidents."