The agitators who have been spearheading the movement for quota reforms in public services called off their protests yesterday (Thursday) till the government publishes a gazette on it. They took the decision after the announcement by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who said in Parliament on Wednesday that all quotas in government jobs would be cancelled. The demonstrators bestowed the title of ‘Mother of Education’ on the PM as she had listened to their demands. They also expressed their gratitude to the media for supporting their issue. The convener of the platform, Nurul Haque, made the announcement to call off the movement before media-persons in front of the Raju Sculpture on the Dhaka University (DU) campus.

However, Haque also demanded that the students detained by the police be immediately released and all cases against them be withdrawn. Haque also demanded proper medical treatment of those injured during the movement.

Later, the organisers brought out a procession on the campus and marched down several of its streets.

Earlier yesterday (Thursday) morning, the demonstrators gathered in front of Raju Sculpture to express their reactions on the issue. They had said on Wednesday that they would inform the media about their decision after scrutinising the speech of the PM in Parliament. On Wednesday, during the Parliament session, PM Sheikh Hasina announced that there would be no quota system in government jobs.

Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad launched the latest round of the protest movement on Sunday, demanding reforms of the quota system. Thousands of students gathered at the Shahbagh intersection, halting traffic movement for hours. Later there were clashes and retaliatory clashes between law enforcement and police personnel and the agitators, which left many students injured.

On Monday, a delegation of central leaders of the movement met road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, and decided to suspend their movement till May 7 after getting an assurance from the government that their demand would be met. But their fellow demonstrators did not agree with the decision to postpone the movement till May 7 and carried out protests, which led to a spilt in the movement.

But on Tuesday, the two factions rejoined to together carry on the movement after agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury in Parliament termed the demonstrators ‘children of Rajakars’.

Till then, only students of public colleges and universities were organising the movement, but the students of private universities joined them, which intensified the protests.