Home
+
Published : 21 Sep 2025, 01:22 AM
Rajshahi University has suspended its controversial “dependent quota” following continuous student protests.
The decision is posted on the university’s official Facebook page at 12:45am on Sunday.
The announcement reads: “Due to the prevailing instability at Rajshahi University, all admission procedures involving institutional facilities have been suspended. An emergency Syndicate meeting is scheduled for Sunday, the 21st of September, to assess the overall situation.”
The declaration came as several thousand students gathered outside the vice-chancellor’s (VC) residence, demanding cancellation of the quota notification and holding of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election on Sept 25.
Following the suspension, around 1:15am, many students left the VC’s residence, while others said the quota was suspended but not cancelled. They said the syndicate meeting on Sunday would provide further clarification.
On Sept 17, a section of teachers, officials, and employees warned of a full-day work stoppage from Sept 21 if the dependent quota was not restored.
In response, the admission committee on Thursday afternoon approved the decision to reinstate the quota for children of teachers, officials, and employees under conditions for the 2024-25 Academic Year.
That evening, students staged a sit-in outside the VC’s residence in protest, and demonstrations have continued since.
On Saturday afternoon, a scuffle broke out between protesting students and teachers at Zubery Bhawan, leaving several injured.
Several thousand female students left their halls to join the protest and gathered outside the VC’s residence.
During the protests, students confined several officers, including Pro-VC Prof Main Uddin, Proctor Mahbubor Rahman and Registrar Iftikharul Alam Masud, at the Zubary Bhawan before moving to the VC’s residence.
By 11:30pm, the officers, except the pro-VC, had left the building.
FEMALE STUDENTS JOIN PROTESTS
After 10pm on Saturday, several thousand students began leaving their hostels and joined the protesters in Zubery Bhawan and the administration building.
By 11:30pm, several thousand students had marched out of their dorms to gather in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence, continuing the protest.
The protesters are voicing two main demands: the cancellation of the dependent quota and the immediate scheduling of the RUCSU elections on Sept 25.
Abu Hurayra, one of the protesters, said: “Our previous movement was aimed at ending discrimination, which we successfully achieved. However, after August, we face another form of discrimination in the form of the dependent quota. We have come together today to oppose this unjust policy. We will continue protesting until our demands are met.”
Another student, Rafia Islam Toma, added: “After the administration’s attack on some of our male counterparts today, we have no choice but to continue protesting until our demands are met.
“The dependent quota must be abolished immediately, and the RUCSU election must be held on time. If our demands are ignored, we will continue to protest.”
CALL FOR STRIKE
A group of teachers, officers, and employees of Rajshahi University announced a work stoppage demanding exemplary punishment for those accused of “assaulting” the pro-vice chancellor and proctor.
The strike announcement was made at a short press briefing in front of the campus Senate building on Saturday night. The written statement was read by Abdul Alim, president of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum and professor in the Agronomy and Agriculture Extension Department.
A six-member committee was earlier formed in favour of the quota. Alim is one of its members, and the written statement carried the signatures of all six.
Prof Alim told bdnews24.com at night, “In [Saturday’s] incident, the pro-vice chancellor and teachers were assaulted. We demand proper justice. If justice is not served, from Monday we will begin an indefinite work stoppage.”
HUNGER STRIKERS IN MEDICAL CENTRE
Nine students began a hunger strike on Friday afternoon outside the administration building against the reinstatement of the quota.
Three students -- Arif Alvi, Sojibur Rahman, and Asadul Islam -- were taken to Rajshahi University Medical Centre in serious condition around 10:30pm.
TEACHER-STUDENT SCUFFLE
According to the briefing’s written statement: “Around 2pm, the pro-vice-chancellor (administration) got into his car to return home for lunch after official work. At that moment, several students forced him out of the car, took the keys, hurled abusive comments and threw coins on the vehicle as alms.
“When he attempted to walk home, they locked the main gate. Helpless, he entered the Juberi Building, where students surrounded him, hurled insults and scuffled with him.
“When the proctor and his bodyguards tried to protect him, the proctor was physically assaulted, Tk 10,000 and his wristwatch were snatched from his pocket. The pro-vice-chancellor was forced to take shelter in a room on the second floor, where his throat was grabbed and he was pushed onto the stairs.
“The Zubery Bhawan is both residential and a club building. Many families live there, including women and children. Electricity and water supplies were cut off to the rooms. Abusive slogans created a fearful environment, leaving families terrified and insecure.”
It added: “Former proctor and current RUCSU Election Commissioner Enamul Haque fell ill there and had to be taken to hospital.”
