Quota reform protesters at odds

A faction of students seeking quota reforms is continuing protest programmes at Dhaka University while the rest have backed off following talks with the government.

Gathering near the Raju Memorial Sculpture on Tuesday, they condemned “terror attacks on students” and demanded an apology from Agricultural Minister Matia Chowdhury for her statements in parliament regarding them.

Those still continuing with protests are infiltrators, said the faction that has stepped back, while addressing a press conference on campus.

Police, Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling Awami League’s student wing, clashed with protesters calling for quota reforms on the Dhaka University campus on Sunday night and continued into Monday morning.

A delegation of the protesters then sat with representatives from the government at the Secretariat later in the day.

They called off the programme, citing assurances that the government will reach a decision by May 7 after reviewing the present quota system for appointment to government jobs.

Some of the protesters, however, pledged to continue the protests and rejected calls from the delegation.

Bipasha Chowdhury, a spokesperson for those continuing the protests, said they would not attend classes and exams until Apr 15.

The protesting students gathered outside the Central Public Library at 11am and marched up to the Raju sculpture. The other faction arranged a press conference near the library later on.

Their spokesperson Nurul Hoque Nur said: “We have suspended our activities until Apr 7. Classes and exams will be held normally during this period.”

Mohammad Rashed Khan of the council said: “Those who ransacked the VC’s house formed a committee to continue the movement. They just want to create chaos on campus.”

On the other hand, those carrying out the protests cited fears that the movement might falter if it is called off now as Ramadan, the fasting month, will start in May prompting many to go on holiday.

Nil Rudra Roy, a student protesting near the Raju sculpture, said: “On Sunday night, they opened fire on us, lobbed tear shells at us. First we need justice to be served over these incidents.”

“We will continue our protests until our demands are realised. We might be tagged as ‘anti-religion’ if we hold the programmes during Ramadan.”

At an unplanned parliament session on Monday, Agriculture Minister Chowdhury condemned the attacks led on DU VC Prof Dr Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman‘s house during quote reform protests.

“Should we shrink the freedom fighters quota for the sake of sons and daughters of razakars? Should they be given the chances instead?” she said.

Many of the protesters on Tuesday strongly condemned Matia’s statement.

Tuesday’s protest scene, however, seemed less intense and lacked coordination.