Bangla Blockade: DU students block Shahbagh intersection to protest quotas

Dhaka University students blocked the Shahbagh intersection on Sunday to enforce their "Bangla Blockade" program, demanding the cancellation of the government job quota system and reinstatement of a 2018 circular.

Meanwhile, students from Dhaka College and Dhaka City College obstructed traffic at the intersections of Nilkhet and Science Lab, and other student groups blocked additional roads across the city, including the Agargaon and Hotel Intercontinental intersections in Dhaka, with student groups nationwide blocking many other roads.

A procession that started at the Dhaka University (DU) central library headed toward Shahbag via the Raju Memorial Sculpture in TSC. 

Police officers put a barrier in front of the Shahbagh metro rail station to stop the protesters from moving further. However, a faction of protesters managed to break through the barricade and move toward Minto Road, while the remaining protesters stayed at Shahbagh, continuing to block the road.

The group that pushed past the police barricade eventually blocked the intersection near the Rajosik Sculpture on Minto Road, halting all vehicular traffic and chanting slogans.

A DU student, Mohammad Imran, explained their reason for blocking the roads, saying: "We will continue to block the road if the administration and government do not recognize or continue to ignore our demands."

Meanwhile, amid this nationwide student movement, the DU Chhatra League called a program of its own -- leaders and members of the organization gathered at Madhur Canteen. However, they did not seem to interfere with the ongoing protests.

The Chhatra League unit started its program around 3pm, according to some members.

The four-point demands of the protesting students are reinstating the 2018 quota-cancelling 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. 

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the High Court’s verdict that declared the decision to cancel the quota system, including the first and second-class freedom fighter quota in government jobs, illegal.

On June 5, the High Court declared illegal the circular that cancelled the quotas, including those for freedom fighters, in first and second-class government jobs.

As a result, the 30% quota for freedom fighters in government jobs (grades 9 to 13) will remain in place.

Following the High Court ruling, various discussions and criticisms emerged on social media. 

Additionally, protests and demonstrations took place in several locations, including Dhaka University.

Meanwhile, students of Dhaka University demanded the withdrawal of the High Court's verdict to reinstate the 30% quota for the children of freedom fighters in government jobs from grades 9 to 13.

Previously, on October 4, 2018, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular to implement the Cabinet's decision to abolish the existing quota system for direct recruitment to first- and second-class posts in government jobs.