Quota decision defeats July Uprising spirit, says Students’ Rights Council president

Bangladesh Students’ Rights Council President Bin Yamin Mollah has said reserving quotas for the family members of those injured and killed in the July Uprising in government schools contradicts the spirit of the movement.

Speaking at a press conference at Dhaka University's Madhu’s Canteen on Monday, he said: “A 5 per cent quota has been reserved for children of freedom fighters and children of July Uprising victims in the secondary and higher secondary admission exams.

“The government has taken this decision in complete contradiction to our July spirit.”

The education ministry has issued an order that has reserved 5 per cent of the total seats in government secondary schools for the children of freedom fighters and family members of those killed in the uprising.

Yamin demanded the cancellation of this quota at a press conference at Dhaka University.

He also demanded the families of the July martyrs be compensated with Tk 10 million, while the families of the injured should receive Tk 5 million for rehabilitation.

Commenting on the first quota used in the appointment of advisors to the interim government, he said: “Advisors were appointed under the student quota and it was said that they were representatives of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

“Later, we saw the Anti-discrimination Student Movement was a combined platform of leaders and activists of all student organisations.

"The individuals holding positions in all student organisations were expelled from those roles.

“The coordinator quota was introduced later, followed by another quota for student representatives in various reform commissions."

“We have seen no programmes were allowed to be held under the banner of political student organisations in Dhaka University.

“It was said that student politics is prohibited and cannot be carried out. Yet, those who imposed these restrictions are now the leaders of the new student organisation.

"We are seeing how coordinator quotas can be used to reach big positions. Mongla employees can become chief advisors. There are also talks of extortion.”

Sanaullah Haque, convenor of the Dhaka University chapter of the Students’ Rights Council, said: “This government was formed by burying the quota system. They are bringing it back to make up for their failure.

“Sheikh Hasina has failed trying to toy with quota. We don’t want you to fail while playing the same game.”