Quota Protests: Public university students to boycotts classes, exams from Sunday

Public university students will boycott all classes and examinations starting Sunday, demanding the cancellation of quotas in first- and second-grade government jobs.

Students from several universities held an online campaign on Friday, announcing their plans on social media. Class representatives from all departments and batches declared that they would not attend classes until their demands are met.

Public university teachers are also protesting, calling for the cancellation of the universal pension scheme. Their strike, paused for Friday and Saturday, will resume on Sunday.

Students have announced a three-day programme, including the online and in-person programme on Friday, across all universities to push for quota reform.

On Saturday, they will hold a protest rally at 3 pm at all universities, including Dhaka University. And on Sunday, they will observe a strike.

"Students of the country will not accept this quota system. We will continue our protest until our demands are fulfilled," said Nahid Hsan, a student from Dhaka University’s Sociology Department.

On the other hand, leaders and activists of BCL, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, reportedly threatened students against participating in the protests without their permission.

A student from Rokeya Hall told The Financial Express that BCL leaders warned in a messenger group that those who would join the protests would be thrown out of the hall.

BCL members had previously taken positions at various dormitories of Dhaka University to prevent students from joining the protests.

On Thursday night, anti-quota movement leader Sharjis Alam was forced to vacate Amar Ekushey Hall at around 10:00 pm.

Protesting against this, hundreds of students from different halls of the university immediately gathered and chanted slogans in front of the hall.

In October 2018, the government had issued a circular abolishing quotas in government jobs from ninth to 13th grades.

Three years later in 2021, seven job seekers – who are descendants of freedom fighters – filed a petition challenging the government decision to abolish quotas in first and second grade jobs.

After nearly six years, on June 5, the High Court ruled that scrapping the 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters and their descendants was illegal.

On the heels of the ruling, students at different universities, including Dhaka University, took to streets, demanding the cancellation of quotas in government jobs.