The students started their agitation from Wednesday morning like last few days to demand logical reform of quota in government jobs. The agitators have announced to continue the program even though the Supreme Court stayed the status quo in the notification of cancellation of the quota.
The students have been agitating since July 1 to demand a one-point reform by keeping a logical minimum quota in all grades.
For two days this week, the students held a program to stop road and rail communication, which they named ‘Bangla Blockade’. In continuation of this, the students have observed the whole countrywide blockade program on Wednesday as well.
From the front of the central library, the students took a procession around the entire campus. Then at twelve o’clock they blocked the Shahbag intersection.
Students gathered here and chanted slogans demanding quota reforms. At this time, barricades were placed on the surrounding roads. Many law enforcement personnel were deployed.
During this time, the students continued with singing, poetry-recitation, various cultural activities.
At this time, the agitators said on the microphone that a non-resident student was not allowed to come from home at first. Later his mother brought herself and joined the movement. At the same time, it is said that the girl’s mother gave them five hundred rupees for food. The students became excited.
In the meantime, it was reported that the Appellate Division has granted a stay of one month in the judgment of the High Court at a quarter past one.
On Thursday, the full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan canceled the freedom fighter quota and maintained the status quo in the judgment given by the High Court. The next hearing in this matter will be held after four weeks. During this period, the circular issued by the government canceling the quota in government jobs will remain in force.
At this time, the Chief Justice called upon the agitating students to return to class.
As a result, the students were asked whether the agitation program will continue.
They said that although they have full respect for the court, they have one point of demand from the executive department. As a result, they have to solve this problem.
Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, told BBC Bangla, “Every time different parties go to court, it is canceled or postponed. There is no guarantee that it won’t happen again later. Will we go down the road after a month? So we want to solve this problem at once”.
“Now that I’m on the road, I want a permanent logical solution to this. That is possible only for the executive department. It can be done by passing a law in the National Parliament and making a new circular,” said Mr. Islam
Students demand that reform should be done by keeping a logical minimum quota not only in two grades but in all grades. At this time, the students held a rally with banners containing different types of writings.
A student named Tasneem Tamanna said, “Let all discriminatory quotas be abolished and five percent quota maintained. This is our one-point demand”.
Students said that according to the constitution, minimum quota should be kept for various groups including backward, tribal, disabled. That is, they demand a universal solution by discussing with all parties.
“Disabled quota is needed, tribal quota is needed. But it should be within a certain limit,” said Fahmida Meena, another student.
Not talking about the 2018 notification, they demanded reform of the entire quota system in all grades of government jobs.
Sanjana Afifa Aditi, co-coordinator of the anti-discrimination movement, said, “Let the circular of 2018 come or not. My demand is not to cancel it, it should not come. My demand is quota reform. It has nothing to do with our demands.”
People suffer
There are two hospitals in Shahbagh. There was no traffic in the area as the surrounding roads were closed. As a result common people suffer. Many left the hospital on foot as they could not find vehicles. Again, many people are seen taking rickshaws at higher fares.
A woman came to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical College Hospital for cancer treatment. He said that he did not know about the blockade today. Waiting at Shahbagh for an hour after treatment. But they are suffering because there is no vehicle.
The entire Dhaka was virtually paralyzed by the blockade of students at various points in Dhaka. Students blocked various points including Farmgate, Matsya Bhavan, Mohakhali, Science-Lab, Kakrail Mor.
At Matsya Bhavan intersection, students can be seen blocking the road with tree branches and barricades. Female students are chatting on a bench.
Here, a passenger on a motorcycle wanted to cross the road and was stopped by the students. At that time, the passenger said that he agreed with the students’ demands. However, he also requested them not to cause suffering to the people.
However, at most points, students showed lax attitude towards ambulances, vehicles carrying sick patients and media vehicles. They are seen announcing that these vehicles should not be obstructed. As a result, no problem was seen in the movement of these vehicles.
Due to the blockade, not many long-distance buses left from morning to half past two. However, when the traffic started at 2.30, the bus started from Mohakhali bus stand.
Rafiqul Islam, the supervisor of the barangay bus, told BBC Bangla, “The bus was running till before eleven in the morning. But the long-distance bus could not leave after eleven o’clock. The bus didn’t leave until half past eleven.”