The 'Bangla blockade' of anti-quota protesters is going on all over the country. For the second consecutive day, the protesters blocked roads in different university areas of the country, including the capital, demanding a point of demand.
Students of different institutions observed the program peacefully by reciting slogans, songs and poems. The blockade began at 4:30 pm yesterday and continued till 8 pm. The protesters blocked Shahbagh, Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Science Lab intersection and Gulistan Zero Point. Roads were also blocked in Rampura and Badda. The movement of vehicles came to a halt as the agitating students blocked the road. Wherever the cars were, they stopped there. As a result, large parts of Dhaka came to a standstill.
The students staged the demonstration to press home their four-point demand, including scrapping the quota system in government jobs and reinstating a circular issued by the government in 2018. Under the banner of 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement', they brought out a procession from in front of the DU (DU) library at 3:55 pm. The procession went through different roads of the campus and reached Shahbagh intersection around 4:30 pm. The front part of the procession went towards Hotel Intercontinental and Bangla Motor intersection to block the road. The rear part took position at Shahbag intersection.
The agitating students of different universities and colleges, including Dhaka University (DU), boycotted classes and examinations and observed a student strike on Sunday. Teachers of DU have abstained from work demanding withdrawal of the notification of the Universal Pension Guarantee Scheme and students boycotting classes and examinations.
Meanwhile, students of Jahangirnagar University blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway. Students of Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Science Laboratory intersection, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Mirpur-12, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Rajshahi University blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh intersection.
Besides, students of Begum Rokeya University took the Dhaka-Chattogram road, Rangpur-Dhaka Highway, Comilla University and Comilla Victoria Government College, Chittagong University, Government Hazi Mohsin Muhammad College, Government City College, Sholoshahar, Chattogram Railway, Khulna University Highway, Barishal University Barishal-Kuakata Highway, Islamic University students on Kushtia-Khulna road and Rabindra University implemented 'Bangla Blockade' on Dhaka-Pabna road. Besides, demonstrations were held in different parts of the country including RUET, Ananda Mohan, NSTU, Ashek Mahmud College, Sheikh Hasina University.
Quota protesters have come down in favor of 'one-point' demand across the country yesterday. Their one-point demand is to abolish all illogical and discriminatory quotas in all grades and bring the quota for backward groups to a minimum level mentioned in the constitution and amend the quota system by passing a law in parliament. They made the 'one-point' announcement from Shahbagh in the capital on Sunday night.
The agitating students are demanding the restoration of the 2018 circular as well as three other demands. These are: Irrational and discriminatory quota in all grades in government jobs should be removed within a short time by forming a commission subject to the continuation of the circular of 2018, in which case only the backward people can be considered according to the constitution; the quota-facility cannot be used more than once in the government job recruitment test and if qualified candidates are not available in the quota, the vacant posts should be appointed according to merit and effective measures should be taken to ensure corruption-free, neutral and merit-based bureaucracy.
Five ministers sudden meet on movements
The students' movement is expanding demanding the cancellation of quota in government jobs. At the same time, the teachers' movement over the pension scheme is also going on. For the fourth day, the anti-quota movement has created a deadlock in Dhaka. Public transport was closed on many important roads in the capital. The movement, which started from universities and various college campuses, has now spread to the highways and streets. Along with the students' movement against the quota, the teachers are also vocal on the campus about the pension scheme.
In this context, five ministers and state ministers of the government sat in a sudden meeting. After the meeting held at the political office of Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday noon, the ministers and state ministers who took part in the sudden meeting did not tell the media.
However, a minister later gave the media some hints about the meeting and advised the protesters to present their statements in court. The minister thinks that a logical verdict will surely come after the court hears the statements of the protesters.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, State Minister for Education Shamsun Nahar and State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat held a surprise meeting yesterday. The meeting began at the political office of party president Sheikh Hasina in Dhanmondi around 1:00pm and continued till 2:00pm. At the end of the meeting, no one wanted to comment on the content of the meeting.
Obaidul Quader said this at a press conference at Dhanmondi at 12 noon. There he talked about the anti-quota movement, the movement of university teachers over pension schemes. After the press conference, the AL general secretary went to the office room at 1:15 pm.
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat were present there. The two were not present at the press conference. Law Minister Anisul Huq arrived at the AL president's political office around 1:32pm. At the same time, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Nahar Chapa came. They both joined the meeting. Party office secretary Biplob Barua was also present.
After an hour-long meeting, the ministers left the office room at 2:12 pm. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader came out first. However, they did not speak to reporters at the time. Later, Law Minister Anisul Huq came out. He also did not speak to the media.
According to sources, the general secretary of the AL called the ministers to Dhanmondi to know the situation of the ongoing movement and what to do. There are new movements, BNP's support to the movement, teachers' movement at the same time, review of the situation and where the issue can go. However, no one who attended the meeting said anything.
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel said, "We discussed various issues. The issues we have discussed are not really something to discuss with the media at the moment."
Responding to a question about the quota movement, Nawfel said, "We will not comment on the matter which is under trial in the court." That's a matter for the court. Our position is that we will not comment on matters that are sub juiced in court. We'll have to wait. The government has appealed. So, I'm not going to comment on that."
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat told reporters that the overall issue was discussed. We talked about political, organizational issues, it is a routine matter.
Asked whether the quota issue was discussed, Ali Arafat said, "Various issues were discussed. It's not about one or two things. The overall issue was discussed. You know about today's sitting, this sitting is regular."
Earlier, at a press conference yesterday afternoon, Obaidul Quader said, "The court will surely give a final verdict after hearing the arguments of both sides. We should wait until the verdict of the High Court and avoid creating any kind of tension, blocking roads and causing sufferings to the people. Especially in the program that inconveniences the HSC examinees-parents, such programs need to be avoided."
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq told the media about the meeting yesterday afternoon, "Five ministers, including the AL general secretary, were sitting. There must have been discussions about various issues including quotas. Quotas are a burning issue. Party Secretary Obaidul Quader also said regarding this matter. In my statement, I found that during the hearing of this case in the High Court, there was no lawyer for those who were against the quota. They did not make their statements in court. Now the case has gone to the Appellate Division, I believe that if they present their statements by keeping a lawyer in the Appellate Division, I firmly believe that the Appellate Division will give a fair verdict."
He also said that I think it's not a political issue, it's about the court. There is no point in blocking or shouting. You have to make a statement in court. I think if it is presented in court, then surely there will be a logical verdict. Finally, I would like to say again that they should present their statements in court.
ZH
