Violence, vandalism at DU over quota protest

At least 20 people were injured on Thursday when a group of job-seekers demanding abolishment of quotas in government jobs fought pitched battles with police.

Dhaka University Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 11 July 2013, 03:45 PM
Updated : 11 July 2013, 03:45 PM

The Vice Chancellor’s residence and office, Proctor’s office, Social Sciences building and several other areas were attacked and vandalised.

Stuff used during the colourful procession ‘Mongol Shobhajatra’ or parade wishing good fortune celebrating Bengali new year ‘Pahela Boishakh’ were burned.

Some vehicles were also vandalised.

Authorities filed a case against over 500 unnamed vandals over the violence. Police detained 12 during the clashes for questioning.

The BNP issued a statement calling on the government to consider demand of abolishing quotas for government jobs.

However, some organisations have blamed BNP’s key ally Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir for the violent agitation.

A group of candidates who failed to clear 34th BCS preliminary exams had blocked the Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday, causing severe traffic gridlocks in the capital.

To quell the protest, the PSC on Wednesday had announced that the results would be reviewed.

But the agitating students were not pacified by the announcement as they demanded that entire quota system be abolished.

To press for their demand, a group of students converged at Shahbagh on Thursday morning and tried to resume the road blockade. Soon police intervened which led to the clashes.

The agitated students then took position in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University and started raising slogan.

They set fire to the street and hurled brickbats at police. Police lobbed teargas shells and advanced towards TSC amid a hail of brickbats.

The protestors damaged several vehicles, including one of private TV station ATN Bangla, at the time. The ATN Bangla vehicle’s driver was injured in the head.

Around 12:15pm, the students melted away as the police advanced, firing in the air and lobbing teargas shell.

An armoured vehicle charged in firing blank shots. The car came in from Shahbagh, and carried on to Doyel Chattar via TSC. Some students were injured at this time while trying to flee.

Protestors were scattered.

They hurled bricks at the residence of Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor and ransacked the VC and Proctor’s offices.

Then a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists beat up some of the demonstrators, branding them as ‘Shibir activists’.

Angered by the assault, protestors regrouped and broke into the VC’s residence and carried out vandalism. VC AAMS Arefin Siddique was at office during this time.

Four Dhaka University students – Enamul, Srijon, Anwar and Jahir – were injured from rubber bullets. They were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Others injured – Nurnabi Mondal, Faisal Ahmed, Mostafizur Rahman, Sajib, Abu Salem, Aftam, Mahin, Sharif, Kamrul and Al Amin – were treated at campus medical centre.

Witnesses said many more fell sick at the scene after inhaling teargas.

At one point of clashes, a police motorcycle was burned and some auto-rickshaws were vandalised.

The protestors again grouped near Dhaka University central library and chanted slogans. Some copies of dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were burned there.

Though Acting Proctor Amzad Ali supported the movement in the first place, on Thursday, he said this movement was not to press for the end of the quota system, but to create disorder.

“I supported (Wednesday’s) movement and even the PSC was moved to reconsider. But now Jamaat and Shibir are taking advantage. Vandalism at VC’s residence, Proctor office is proof of it.

In response to questions he said police had begun to fire rubber bullets without permission in the first place. “But after the vandalism, I called them up.”

Organisation ‘Amra Muktijoddhar Sontan’ (We are the children of freedom fighters) has alleged that the ‘spawns’ of the Jamaat-e-Islami were involved in it.

“Some Shibir activists, posing as ordinary students, and some reactionary individuals led the movement.”

Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangladesh Chhatra Andolan, JaSaD Chhatra League, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri and several other student organisations have also said Jamaat were behind the agitation.

Even the social websites were full of criticism.

A Facebook user, Shibli Sarkar, wrote that he was compelled to go against the anti-quota movement after hearing Jamaat and Shibir men were behind it. “I supported it in the first place. But now I can’t from my conscience.”

Another user, Sharif Mohammad Zarif, mentioned the ‘Mongol Shovajatra’ items being burnt. “Who gave you the right to do this? Slogans of throwing sandals in the face of freedom fighters were also heard. We know what this means”

On the other hand, in a statement on Thursday night, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir condemned the ‘police attack’ on students.

“The government is so out of its mind in the face of the outrage that resulted from their misrule that besides suppressing opposition, they have unleashed police and Juba League, Chhatra League on (the students).”

Mirza Fakhrul claimed it was ‘also a plot to rob the state and public administration of merit”.

“It is not only embarrassing for the government, but the whole nation. We are calling on the government for a rethink.”

Students of Rajshahi University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology set up road blockades earlier in the day over the demand. A similar demonstration was also staged in front of Jahangirnagar University for one hour until the university authorities intervened.

Demonstrators contend they failed to make the grade despite obtaining high marks because of the quota system which has allowed many with much low marks to pass the test.

They say this eased out many students of true merit They said despite getting high marks, many brilliant students lost out to those covered by the quota with low marks.

Quota system was introduced in the government service by an executive order in 1972, where 20 percent recruitment was reserved on merit, 40 percent on district quota, 30 percent for freedom fighters and 10 percent for war-torn women.

It was changed in 1976 and merit-based hiring accounted for 40 percent. District quota came down to 20 percent, but the freedom fighter quota remained at 30 percent.

Then in 1985, the system was again amended for first and second-class government jobs. Forty-five percent were allowed under merit, 30 percent for freedom fighters, 10 percent for women and for the first time, five percent for indigenous people.
Later authorities said that the freedom fighter quota will also be eligible for their children.
A Supreme Court lawyer has already issued a legal notice on the government asking it to abolish quotas for government jobs within 24 hours.
“Article 29 (a) of the Constitution says that there can be no discrimination between citizens of this country. But the quota system separates citizens into classes,” the lawyer Ekhlas Uddin said.
The notice was sent to the Cabinet Secretary, Establishment Secretary, Education Secretary and Public Service Commission Secretary, he said.