Braving warnings, quota protesters set for Bangabhaban march

Students and jobseekers calling for the reform of the quota system in government jobs will march towards to the President‍‍`s official residence, Bangabhaban, to submit a memorandum containing a charter of their demands on Sunday.

It comes despite statements from several ministers and police officers indicate that they are taking a tougher stance against the students who have been agitating for quota reform in the government job recruitment process.

Through the memorandum, they want an emergency parliamentary session to address what they describe as "quota discrimination" through new legislation or executive orders.

These announcements were made under the banner of the “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement” during a press conference at Dhaka University‍‍ on Saturday.

At the event, they also demanded the withdrawal of a case filed by a police officer, giving a 24-hour ultimatum and denouncing the case as “false and fabricated.”

Outside Dhaka, students outside the capital will submit memorandums to the President through their respective deputy commissioners (DCs) on Sunday.

"The long march will be held at 11 am on Sunday, with students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, affiliated colleges, and other educational institutions in Dhaka participating. The march will start from the main gate of Dhaka University‍‍`s central library," said Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the anti-quota protests.

"The ongoing student strike to boycott classes and examinations will continue. We will also submit a memorandum to the President, requesting an emergency session in the National Parliament to resolve this issue," he added.

Nahid Islam, another coordinator of the protests, accused the government of planning to suppress the movement using police and the ruling party‍‍`s student wing. 

"The government should have engaged in dialogue with the students from the beginning and taken visible steps to resolve this crisis. We want to say that such plans will not derail our protest," he said

He also said that police reported “no damage” during Thursday‍‍`s protest. "We have records of this. We demand accountability from the police regarding this sudden case. Such threats will not deter us. We demand the withdrawal of this case within the next 24 hours. If they want to file a case, they can do so by naming individuals."

Addressing the teachers, another coordinator, Sarjis Alam, said, "Classes were canceled for your pension scheme, and students supported you. Now it‍‍`s time for you to support your students‍‍` logical demands. Even if your demands are met, we will not participate in classes or exams until our demands are met. We don’t want to see our teachers pressuring us to attend classes and exams."

Statementes by ministers, police, BCL

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said regarding the anti-quota movement, if aggitating students have something to say, they should refrain from blocking roads and instead present their concerns in court.

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the demands and statements of the quota protesters are contradictory to the constitution and the fundamental principles of the state.

“The law regarding the quota system will proceed on at its own pace,” he said.

The ongoing crisis over quota system in government jobs has to be resolved through court, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Saturday.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Saturday questioned logical ground of frequent change in the demands of the quota protesters.

“The government’s position and demand of the quota protesters are very much identical,” Arafat said adding there is no reason of seeking its solution from the court, legislative and executive at different times.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner and Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun Or Rashid today said intruders have been entered into the quota movement to divert it towards different direction.

Referring to giving instigation among the agitating students by others, he said, "If someone does not obey the order of the court, damage the lives and properties and blockade the roads, then the law enforcers will carry out the logical tasks to this end".

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League, is going to conduct policy advocacy and door to door campaign aimed at bringing an inclusive solution to the issue of Quota in government jobs.

"The BCL came up with the programmes to aid the government bring an inclusive solution to the issue aimed at avoiding the traditional means of movement causing public sufferings as the ongoing blockade made common people‍‍`s sufferings a lot," BCL President Saddam Hussain said.