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Published : 03 Aug 2024, 01:20 AM
The platform of quota reform activists has announced a protest rally on Saturday and an indefinite 'total non-cooperation' movement starting from Sunday.
The ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ declares the programmes in protest against the attacks and killings of students and the public throughout Bangladesh, and in demand of the previously announced nine-point agenda.
On Friday night, one of the coordinators of the movement, Mahin Sarkar, announced the new course of action by sending a notice to journalists in a WhatsApp group.
Over the past few days, different coordinators have been announcing the programmes by sending out notices each day.
In the notice, the members of the public countrywide have been called upon to organise in every alley and neighbourhood to make the programmes successful.
The details of the programme were also promoted on Facebook by several coordinators including Asif Mahmud and Abdul Hannan Masud from their personal IDs.
Around 7:45pm, coming live on Facebook, coordinator Abdul Hannan stated, 'No taxes will be paid to this government, no electricity or gas bills will be paid, all government and private offices will remain closed, no vehicles will enter Ganabhaban or Bangabhaban. This government will be met with total non-cooperation.'
He urged everyone to participate in these programmes to ensure the government can no longer remain in power.
In 2018, the government in a notification abolished the job quota system, and following a High Court ruling in late June this year declaring it illegal, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement took to the streets in early July.
Initially, they demanded the reinstatement of the government notification, meaning the abolition of quotas, but later brought forward demands for reform.
On July 15, following clashes between the activists of the movement and the Chhatra League workers at Dhaka University, further conflicts occurred outside the university campus.
Three individuals, including a Chhatra Dal leader in Chittagong, a Chhatra League worker, and a hawker at Dhaka's Science Laboratory, and a student named Abu Sayed at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur were killed in the violence.
The following day, in a televised speech to the nation, the prime minister called on students to remain patient. However, a 'complete shutdown' programme was announced on Jul 18.
On that day, clashes with police in Uttara and Badda led to several fatalities, turning the situation dire. From noon to evening, attacks on various state properties were simultaneously attacked across Dhaka and other parts of the country.
The government alleged involvement of parties other than the students in these attacks.
The violence continued from Jul 18 to Jul 21, particularly reaching alarming levels in areas like Jatrabari, Rampura, and Mohammadpur in Dhaka.
During these five days of violence, the government reported the deaths of 150 people, with several hundred more injured.
After the clashes subsided, police conducted a mass arrest operation, detaining thousands.
Following this, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement made several demands, including an end to the arrests, and justice for the killings. Announcements of programmes have been periodically made.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meantime has announced investigations into each death and spoken multiple times about seeking assistance from the United Nations for the investigations.
