Quota Protests: Nazrul University students block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway

Students from Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Wednesday, demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs and the retention of merit-based recruitment.

They marched throughout the campus under the banner of the 'Bangla Blocked & Bikkhob Michil’ from University Zero Point before starting the blockade of the highway around 2:45 pm.

The blockade continued until around 5:45pm, leading heavy traffic jams on both sides of the highway. 

During the blockade, Sanowar Rabbi a law student from the university, said that the quota system must be abolished, ensuring only a five per cent quota for disadvantaged groups.

“Our stance is clear: we seek logical reforms to the quota system, specifically for disadvantaged groups," he said.

Ujjol Chandra, a convener of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said, “Our main demand is the passing a parliamentary law to abolish discriminatory quotas in all government job grades and minimise quotas for disadvantaged groups like the disabled and tribal communities as per constitutional norms.”

Protesting students also raised awareness of discriminatory quotas in government jobs, both in person and online.

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