Quota reform movement

3 leaders picked up by DB, freed later

Three leaders of the recent quota reform protests were allegedly picked up by Detective Branch (DB) of police yesterday and freed after two hours without being asked anything. The three were, Nurul Haque Nur, a masters’ student of the English department, Rashed Khan of the MBA department and Faruk Hossain of the disaster management Department—all joint conveners of the Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad (Council for Protection of General Students' Rights).

However, police claimed that they were called in for discussion.  Abdul Baten, joint commissioner of the DB, said: “They were brought in for questioning as part of the investigation and then released.”

Earlier, at a press conference in the morning, the students had demanded withdrawal of cases against the demonstrators within two days.

“After our press conference, we were heading towards Chankharpool on a rickshaw to eat something around 1:00pm,” Faruk Hossain, joint convener of the council, said.

Witnesses said the three were stopped in front of the emergency gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 12:45pm on Monday when they were on a rickshaw. They were picked up by some people in civil dress and taken away in a microbus.

“We were picked up,” said Md Rashed Khan over phone to the correspondent.

Around 2:45pm, the students were released.

Md Rashed Khan alleged that his father was taken to the police station. “After detaining us, they (police) covered our

eyes with cloth and took it off at the DB office at Mintu Road,” he said.  

Beni Amin, a witness of the incident, said seven to eight people got down from a microbus and motorcycle, stopped the rickshaw and there was squabble before the three rickshaw passengers were pushed into the microbus.

Rashed Khan said they would file a general diary with Shahbagh police station since they are worried about their security.

However, police said the three were taken away in order to scrutinise reports of violence during the protests.

“They were called to scrutinise video footage of the attack on the VC’s house for the purpose of investigation. They have been released,” said Abdul Baten.

But Farque Hossain claimed that the law enforcers did not show them any video footage. Earlier, the protestors suspended their demonstration when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in Parliament on Wednesday that there would be no quota from now on.

The Council for Protection of General Students’ Rights held a press conference yesterday in front of the Central Library of Dhaka University and demanded that the authorities withdraw within the next two days cases filed against them during the quota reform movement. They also threatened to wage a more vigorous demonstration otherwise.

On April 11, five cases had been filed with Shahbagh police station by the Dhaka University authorities and police against a large number of unidentified people on charges of vandalism, arson and obstructing lawmen to perform their duty during demonstrations in Dhaka over quota reform in public service recruitment and in connection with the attack on the DU VC’s residence.

“The baseless cases filed against thousands of protesters must be withdrawn within the next two days. If not, the students will once again take to the street in protest,” joint convener Nurul Haque Nur had said at the press conference, before he was taken away by the police for questioning.

The agitating students also protested against a report published by the Daily Ittefaq which termed one of the protesters as “Shibir” activist.

They also demanded withdrawal of the news, saying, “If the newspaper does not withdraw the report within 5pm today (Monday), all educational institutions and universities will boycott the newspaper from tomorrow (Tuesday).”

The leaders also demanded arrest of the miscreants involved in the attack on the residence of the VC.

They also urged the authorities not to harass any student in the university hall or the campus.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has demanded logical reform of the existing quota system. In a press release, it urged the government to take the initiative to restore the quota system for women, tribal and disabled persons.

In the proposal, it said that going by the latest figures in the public administration job sector and the present socio-economic condition in the country, women need to advance more. The BMP thinks there is need for more participation of women. For this, 1 per cent quota for the disabled, 5 per cent for tribals and 10 per cent quota for women should be restored.

The BMP also referred to the Constitution’s Article 29/ (ka), which says about quota in government jobs. It also said if there is no quota, development of women will be hampered.

Quota reform movement

3 leaders picked up by DB, freed later

Three leaders of the recent quota reform protests were allegedly picked up by Detective Branch (DB) of police yesterday and freed after two hours without being asked anything. The three were, Nurul Haque Nur, a masters student of the English department, Rashed Khan of the MBA department and Faruk Hossain of the disaster management Departmentall joint conveners of the Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad (Council for Protection of General Students Rights). However, police claimed that they were called in for discussion. Abdul Baten, joint commissioner of the DB, said: They were brought in for questioning as part of the investigation and then released. Earlier, at a press conference in the morning, the students had demanded withdrawal of cases against the demonstrators within two days. After our press conference, we were heading towards Chankharpool on a rickshaw to eat something around 1:00pm, Faruk Hossain, joint convener of the council, said. Witnesses said the three were stopped in front of the emergency gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 12:45pm on Monday when they were on a rickshaw. They were picked up by some people in civil dress and taken away in a microbus. We were picked up, said Md Rashed Khan over phone to the correspondent. Around 2:45pm, the students were released. Md Rashed Khan alleged that his father was taken to the police station. After detaining us, they (police) covered our eyes with cloth and took it off at the DB office at Mintu Road, he said. Beni Amin, a witness of the incident, said seven to eight people got down from a microbus and motorcycle, stopped the rickshaw and there was squabble before the three rickshaw passengers were pushed into the microbus. Rashed Khan said they would file a general diary with Shahbagh police station since they are worried about their security. However, police said the three were taken away in order to scrutinise reports of violence during the protests. They were called to scrutinise video footage of the attack on the VCs house for the purpose of investigation. They have been released, said Abdul Baten. But Farque Hossain claimed that the law enforcers did not show them any video footage. Earlier, the protestors suspended their demonstration when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in Parliament on Wednesday that there would be no quota from now on. The Council for Protection of General Students Rights held a press conference yesterday in front of the Central Library of Dhaka University and demanded that the authorities withdraw within the next two days cases filed against them during the quota reform movement. They also threatened to wage a more vigorous demonstration otherwise. On April 11, five cases had been filed with Shahbagh police station by the Dhaka University authorities and police against a large number of unidentified people on charges of vandalism, arson and obstructing lawmen to perform their duty during demonstrations in Dhaka over quota reform in public service recruitment and in connection with the attack on the DU VCs residence. The baseless cases filed against thousands of protesters must be withdrawn within the next two days. If not, the students will once again take to the street in protest, joint convener Nurul Haque Nur had said at the press conference, before he was taken away by the police for questioning. The agitating students also protested against a report published by the Daily Ittefaq which termed one of the protesters as Shibir activist. They also demanded withdrawal of the news, saying, If the newspaper does not withdraw the report within 5pm today (Monday), all educational institutions and universities will boycott the newspaper from tomorrow (Tuesday). The leaders also demanded arrest of the miscreants involved in the attack on the residence of the VC. They also urged the authorities not to harass any student in the university hall or the campus. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has demanded logical reform of the existing quota system. In a press release, it urged the government to take the initiative to restore the quota system for women, tribal and disabled persons. In the proposal, it said that going by the latest figures in the public administration job sector and the present socio-economic condition in the country, women need to advance more. The BMP thinks there is need for more participation of women. For this, 1 per cent quota for the disabled, 5 per cent for tribals and 10 per cent quota for women should be restored. The BMP also referred to the Constitutions Article 29/ (ka), which says about quota in government jobs. It also said if there is no quota, development of women will be hampered.