Protesters warn tough stir if no gazette on quota abolition by April

Quota reform agitators yesterday threatened to wage a tougher movement from May if the government failed to issue a gazette notification on abolishing reservation in government jobs within this month as per the Prime Minister’s announcement in Parliament. Leaders of the quota reform movement issued the ultimatum at a press conference on the Dhaka University (DU) campus. Student leaders Rashed Khan, Nurul Haq Nur, Hasan Al Mamun and Faruk Hossain were among those present at the press meet. The student leaders also issued a written statement condemning Daily Janakantha, a Bengali daily, for publishing “biased news” against the movement on April 21.

Nurul Haq Nur, co-convener of the movement, demanded an apology from the daily within 5pm yesterday. “Otherwise, the newspaper will be boycotted from Friday across the country. Legal steps will also be taken against the daily,” he said. He also said that a teacher-student view-exchange meeting on quota reform will be held on the DU campus on April 30.

The leaders also demanded the withdrawal of five cases filed during the quota reform movement within this month. They also urged the authorities to find out the real culprits and bring them to justice.

DU authorities and police had filed the cases with Shahbagh police station on April 11 against a large number of unidentified people. The cases pertained to vandalism, arson and obstructing policemen from performing their duty during anti-quota demonstrations and the attack on the DU VC’s residence.

On April 18, the students had issued a seven-day ultimatum for withdrawal of the cases. Earlier this month, the country had witnessed a widespread movement by students of both public and private universities to demand reforms to the quota system. As part of the protests, students had blocked key points in the capital and also roads and highways elsewhere for over four days.

Amidst the protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had told Parliament on April 11 that the quota system in public service recruitments would be scrapped. Following the announcement, the protesters had called off their movement.

Protesters warn tough stir if no gazette on quota abolition by April

Quota reform agitators yesterday threatened to wage a tougher movement from May if the government failed to issue a gazette notification on abolishing reservation in government jobs within this month as per the Prime Ministers announcement in Parliament. Leaders of the quota reform movement issued the ultimatum at a press conference on the Dhaka University (DU) campus. Student leaders Rashed Khan, Nurul Haq Nur, Hasan Al Mamun and Faruk Hossain were among those present at the press meet. The student leaders also issued a written statement condemning Daily Janakantha, a Bengali daily, for publishing biased news against the movement on April 21. Nurul Haq Nur, co-convener of the movement, demanded an apology from the daily within 5pm yesterday. Otherwise, the newspaper will be boycotted from Friday across the country. Legal steps will also be taken against the daily, he said. He also said that a teacher-student view-exchange meeting on quota reform will be held on the DU campus on April 30. The leaders also demanded the withdrawal of five cases filed during the quota reform movement within this month. They also urged the authorities to find out the real culprits and bring them to justice. DU authorities and police had filed the cases with Shahbagh police station on April 11 against a large number of unidentified people. The cases pertained to vandalism, arson and obstructing policemen from performing their duty during anti-quota demonstrations and the attack on the DU VCs residence. On April 18, the students had issued a seven-day ultimatum for withdrawal of the cases. Earlier this month, the country had witnessed a widespread movement by students of both public and private universities to demand reforms to the quota system. As part of the protests, students had blocked key points in the capital and also roads and highways elsewhere for over four days. Amidst the protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had told Parliament on April 11 that the quota system in public service recruitments would be scrapped. Following the announcement, the protesters had called off their movement.