Quota revival protests postponed for nine hours for medical college entry tests

The protesters calling for the resurrection of quotas in government jobs have announced a nine-hour postponement of their demonstration to facilitate Friday’s medical college entry tests.

They made the announcement following a request by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who met them at the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Thursday night.

“Freedom fighters’ children won’t have to take to the street for their demands as long as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is there; we, the freedom fightersm are there,” he told the media after the meeting.

“You surely love the country and want its wellbeing. So, I request you to leave the streets tomorrow considering the medical college admission tests,” he added.

Dhaka metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was also present.

The organisations of freedom fighters’ descendants that are demonstrating for quota revival have formed a platform named ‘Muktijuddho Mancha’ to coordinate the movement.

Dhaka University sociology department’s Prof AKM Jamal Uddin has been made spokesperson for the platform.

After the home minister left, he told reporters that they would lift the blockade, which started at the key intersection on Wednesday night, from 6am to 3pm on Friday considering the medical college enrolment tests.

He said they would help the police control traffic in the area during the postponement of the blockade and resume the demonstrations at 3pm.