Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Announces New Program for Quota Reform

The anti-discrimination student movement has announced a new program aimed at implementing the one-phase plan for quota reform. An online-offline representative meeting will be held on Saturday with the organization's coordinators from across the country.

Abu Bakr Majumder, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced this program following a protest rally against police attacks on university students during Thursday's Bangla Blockade. The announcement was made at 6:30 pm on Friday (July 12).

According to the new program, the organization will conduct a nationwide representative meeting tomorrow. Simultaneously, the previously announced class-examination boycott will continue. A press conference is scheduled for 6 pm in front of the central library of Dhaka University.

Abu Bakr Majumder stated, "Police lathi-charged and threw tear gas on our brothers and sisters in Comilla, Chittagong, Shekribi, and other universities during yesterday's protest. The Rajshahi University ruling student union president slapped our coordinator. We strongly condemn and protest this attack. We will resist any further attacks."

He also mentioned that the police attacked a journalist in Comilla yesterday. Additionally, non-students filled the DU campus, and some malicious groups attacked journalists at Shahbagh to undermine the movement. "Journalists have been supporting our demands since June 5. We condemn this attack and demand punishment for those involved," he added.

The protest began at 4:30 pm in front of the central library of DU under the anti-discrimination student movement banner. Students marched through key university areas and gathered at Shahbagh at 5:30 pm. The protest resulted in the complete stoppage of traffic in and around Shahbagh.

On Thursday, students from various institutions gathered at Shahbagh around 5 pm as part of the ongoing anti-quota movement, disrupting traffic in the area.

Meanwhile, the High Court published the main part of its ruling declaring the 2018 circular that canceled the quota system invalid. The ruling allows the government to modify and expand the quota system if desired. Unfulfilled quotas can be filled based on merit.

The High Court ruling emphasized restoring the quota for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters and maintaining quotas for districts, women, persons with disabilities, and tribals-minorities. The government has been directed to issue a new circular within three months of the order.

On June 5, the High Court declared the cancellation of the freedom fighter quota system in first and second class government jobs invalid. The state filed an application to suspend this judgment on June 9.

On Wednesday (July 10), the Appellate Division issued a four-week stay on the High Court's ruling, declaring the circular canceling the freedom fighter quota system illegal. The court instructed both the state and students to file leave to appeal against the High Court's verdict, setting the next hearing for August 7.