Quota protests: Private university students take to the streets

Students from various private universities have begun protests calling for reforms to the quota system in the capital despite a section of the organisers postponing the protests after a meeting with government officials.

Their protests blocked the road from Rampura to Bashundhara along Bir Uttam Rafiqul Islam Avenue and Pragati Sharani from noon on Tuesday.

East West University students gathered at Rampura Bridge, North South students gathered at Bashundhara Gate and students from Independent and United International University, AIUB and the University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS) protested in the Notunbazar area.

Students of some private universities gather on a road at Dhaka’s Pragati Sharani on Tuesday demanding reforms in the quota system for appointment to government jobs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

East West University students had previously occupied Rampura Bridge on Monday for half an hour. On Tuesday they blocked the road again, cutting off traffic from Rampura Bridge to Badda.

UITS students have blocked traffic from Bhatara Police Station to the Badda-Rampura road.

Students of some private universities gather on a road at Dhaka’s Pragati Sharani on Tuesday demanding reforms in the quota system for appointment to government jobs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

North South University students gathered at the main gate to the Bashundhara Residential Area around 10am. They were then joined by Independent, UIU and AIUB students and blocked both sides of Pragati Sharani.

“Our protests will continue and all classes and exams boycotted until the quota system is reformed,” said NSU Department of Environment Science student Tazin Mahmud Ashiq. “We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters protesting at Dhaka University.”

Students of some private universities gather on a road at Dhaka’s Pragati Sharani on Tuesday demanding reforms in the quota system for appointment to government jobs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Ashiq said that they opened a Facebook event following the quota reform protests at Dhaka University and organised the protest on Tuesday.

“We will block the road from 10am to 7pm every day until our demands are met,” another NSU student, Alamin Haque, told bdnews24.com.

East West University students block Bir Uttam Rafiqul Islam road at Dhaka’s Rampura on Tuesday demanding reforms in the quota system for appointments to government jobs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Students and job seekers under the banner “Council for the Preservation of General Students’ Rights” occupied the Shahbag intersection on Sunday when they were dispersed by police using rubber bullets and tear gas. The protesters then clashed with police and the Bangladesh Chhatra League overnight before continuing their demonstrations the following day.

East West University students block Bir Uttam Rafiqul Islam road at Dhaka’s Rampura on Tuesday demanding reforms in the quota system for appointments to government jobs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A 20-member delegation from the protesters met with government representatives at the Secretariat on Monday and then postponed the protests until May 7.

But some protesters on the Dhaka University ignored the announcement and given the government a 15-day deadline to enact the reforms.