Different areas of Dhaka were blocked in the ‘Bangla Blockade’ movement of the anti-quota in government jobs on Sunday. Outside Dhaka, students blocked roads and highways in different areas.
Their demands will be demanded not through the court, but through the movement.
On the other hand, after seven days of the movement, the Prime Minister and Education Minister spoke about it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ‘High court’s verdict, protesting against it like this, it is sub judice. Because, from the government, we cannot say anything about this. If the High Court gives a verdict, it must come again from the High Court.’
In response to this, Asif Ahmed, one of the coordinators of the anti-quota movement, said, “In the beginning of 2018, ordinary students went to the High Court to file a writ against the quota. Then the court said it is the government’s matter, the court has nothing to do. That court has now ruled to uphold the quota. The same court cannot have two kinds of words. If the government wants, it can solve it logically.’
On the other hand, constitutional expert Dr. Shahdeen Malik thinks that the government has a solution. The government can implement the High Court judgment upholding the quota and cancel it again by notification. That is the solution.’
However, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin thinks, ‘The whole matter is now in the judicial process.There is nothing the government can do before it ends.’
As again, the
anti-quota movement is not new this time. In the face of anti-quota movement, the government reformed the quota system in 2018. By issuing a circular, it was decided to cancel the first and second class quotas in government offices, autonomous or semi-autonomous institutions and various corporations and appoint them on the basis of merit.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular on October 4, 2018 canceling the quota of freedom fighters in direct recruitment from grades 9 to 13. It was said there, in the case of direct recruitment to the posts of 9th grade (formerly 1st class) and 10th-13th grade (formerly 2nd class), the appointment should be made on the basis of merit list. The existing quota system for direct recruitment to those posts is abolished. 10 percent women quota, 30 percent freedom fighter quota, 10 percent district quota, 5 percent tribal quota and 1 percent disabled quota were cancelled.
The Children and Generations of Freedom Fighters Central Command Council filed a writ petition in the High Court in 2021 challenging the cancellation of the 30 percent freedom fighter quota in this circular. The High Court ruled on June 5. In the verdict, it was ordered to cancel the government’s circular and maintain the 30 percent quota of freedom fighters. On July 4, the Appellate Division upheld the judgment of the High Court and asked for a regular appeal when the ‘state’ appealed against this verdict. As a result, until the full judgment is published and the appeal is disposed of, Kot remains in government service. And now there is a movement against it.
Is it possible to resolve out of court?
Constitutional expert Dr. Shahdeen Malik said, “The government had earlier issued a notification and canceled the quota. Hence it is clear that the government has the power to cancel quotas. Now that the quota has been reinstated by the court ruling, the government can issue a notification to uphold the quota and cancel it again after two or one days. The government cannot say anything about the court. But it also has the power to issue notifications. The appeal which the State is now in the process of appealing against the judgment of the High Court is also unnecessary. It will waste time. The problem will be solved only if the government implements the High Court’s judgment and then cancels it through notification.’
He said, ‘Those who are agitating against the quota are not asking for the complete cancellation of the quota. He wants reform. The 30 percent quota of freedom fighters is no longer needed. Because the children of freedom fighters no longer seem to be of government employment age, their third generation is going on. For tribals, persons with special needs, backward and backward communities and women in certain areas, a maximum quota of 10-12 percent can be kept. That is why the government can implement the court judgment in that strategy and reform it later by notification. If necessary, a commission can also be formed for this purpose.’
However, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said, ‘Now the matter is under trial, under the judiciary. Now there is nothing to do. We appealed against the verdict soon after the High Court verdict. The court has taken time to hear the appeal. It will be seen what the court decides after the hearing. Nothing can be done during the trial process.’
When asked whether the government can cancel the quota through notification after the government implements the court’s verdict, he said, “The government does not always have everything in its hands.” Let’s see what the Appellate Division said in the judgment. After seeing that, the government can do something. The government cannot do anything about pending cases. Our court has certain rules. The government cannot help there. Let the entire trial process be completed first. Then the government can consider what can be done. But the government has nothing to do while under trial.’
Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the anti-quota movement, said, ‘We want a permanent solution to the quota problem. Our constitution has quotas. So quotas can be kept for the disabled, minorities, those who are truly backward. It should be kept within five percent. It should be fixed permanently by reforming the quota.
In his words, ‘On January 31, 2018, the general students filed a writ in the Kotar Kirudhe High Court. Then the court said it was a matter for the government. Later that year, the government canceled the quota in the face of protests. Now the court ruled to maintain the quota again. It is actually a farce. We want this farce to end. We will continue the movement until our demands are met.’
In contrast, Al Mamun, general secretary of Muktijoddha Ischindar Manch, said, “We got back the 30 percent quota of freedom fighters by the court’s verdict. The government should now issue a notification to maintain the quota. Notification of cancellation of quota should be cancelled. If the government tries to interfere in any way with the court’s verdict, we will form a strong movement across the country.’
He said, ‘Now those who are protesting against the quota basically want the abolition of the freedom fighter quota. Their anti-independence forces have misled them into the field.
On the other hand, regarding the anti-quota movement, Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel said, “I suddenly came down to the streets without waiting for the pending matter and closed the roads. There may be a question whether there is a deep conspiracy behind it or not.” Many instigate in many ways to destroy stability.’
If the movement will continue on Sunday, after noon, Dhaka will come to a standstill. The students of Dhaka College blocked the intersection of Science Laboratory in the afternoon. Traffic in a part of Dhaka was stopped due to this. Dhaka University students blocked Shahbag intersection after 3 pm. They stay from Shahbag Mor to Hotel Intercontinental. Due to this blockade, the movement of vehicles stopped in most areas of Dhaka. Besides, Bangla Motor, Chankhar Pool, Jagannath University area of old Dhaka, Mayor Hanif flyover area were blocked. A massive police force has been deployed on the roads of Dhaka.
Outside Dhaka, students of various universities including Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, Kushtia Islami University blocked their neighboring roads and highways.
Saima Rahman, a student who took part in the siege in Shahbag, said, “Even as a woman, I don’t want women’s quota.” We women are very independent now. Don’t want job with any quota benefits. We want an end to the quota system.’
Another student, Abid Hossain, said, “In the face of 56 percent quota, the talented have now become a minority. Quotas are creating discrimination. We want an end to quotas.’
The agitating students took part in the blockade with various placards and chanted slogans. Among them are, ‘Give news to the whole of Bengal, bury the quota system’, ‘No quota, I want merit’, ‘I want transparent recruitment to get a job’, ‘Let the quota system be abolished, the talented get freedom’, ‘It will not happen in this Bengal, Address discrimination’.
Quota opponents say that not only the first and second class government jobs, but all types of jobs should be reformed.
Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the anti-quota movement, complained, “Students who participated in the anti-quota movement are being intimidated in the halls of Dhaka University.” We stopped the attempt to throw some people out of the hall.
He said, ‘This Bengali blockade of ours will continue until the demands are met. We will provide more new programs. It will be from 3 pm every day in Dhaka. Students from other parts of the country will do them daily at their convenience.
Students were staying in Shahbag even after Sunday evening. They have been protesting for the past seven days.