Students across the country blocked key intersections in Dhaka and national highways as part of the 'Bangla Blockade' on Sunday (7 July), voicing four demands, including the reinstatement of the government’s 2018 circular to abolish the quota system in government jobs.
At the end of today's "Bangla Blockade" programme, Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, announced that they will continue the protests with one-point demand from tomorrow (8 July).
Students of Dhaka University (DU) blocked intersections at Shahbagh, InterContinental Dhaka, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, and Chankarpool.
Under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, hundreds gathered initially at the DU central library at 3pm, proceeding with processions from various halls.
They marched through locations including the central library, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, VC Chattar, TSC, and Shahbagh.
Photo: BFirst
This blockade has led to significant traffic congestion, causing long tailbacks in areas like Bangla Motor, Shahbagh, Science Lab, and Kakrail.
In addition, another group of DU students blocked the Chankarpul intersection, resulting in a lengthy tailback on Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover.
Meanwhile, students from Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College caused major traffic jams on Mirpur Road by blocking intersections at Nilkhet and Science Lab.
Students from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University blocked the Agargaon intersection, while students from Kabi Nazrul Government College and Jagannath University took similar actions in Old Dhaka.
At Jahangirnagar University, students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway as part of the nationwide Bangla Blockade protest. Similarly, students from Barishal University blocked the Barishal-Kuakata highway, and those from Comilla University disrupted traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
Students of Chittagong University took part in blocking the roads at the 2no gate intersection of the port city.
During the protest, students announced that it will continue until their demands are met.
Photo: BFirst
During the procession, protesters chanted slogans including "Quota or merit, merit merit," "The essence of the Liberation War is equality of opportunity," "No place for discrimination in Bangabandhu's Bengal," "No place for discrimination in the Bengal of the Liberation War," "Spread the word across Bengal, bury the quota system," and "One demand, one goal, no more quota."
The protesting students' demands are: A commission must be formed to eliminate unreasonable and discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs, upholding the 2018 circular, and only considering disadvantaged and underprivileged groups as per the constitution; the quota benefit in government job recruitment exams should not be used more than once; if qualified candidates are not found under the quota, the vacant positions should be filled based on merit; effective measures must be taken to ensure a corruption-free, impartial, and merit-based bureaucracy.
Yesterday (6 July), thousands of students and government job aspirants blocked the Shahbagh intersection from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm and announced plans to block all roads in Bangladesh today, terming it the 'Bangla Blockade.'
Photo: BFirst
The protest was sparked by a recent High Court decision declaring the government's 2018 cancellation of the 30% quota system for the heirs of freedom fighters in civil service jobs of ninth to 13th grades (first and second class jobs) illegal.
Until 2018, 56% of posts in government jobs were reserved for various quotas. These included 30% for the children of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for districts, 5% for minority groups, and 1% for the disabled. In response to student agitation, the Cabinet recommended abolishing quotas in first and second class jobs, opting instead for a merit-based system.
On 4 October 2018, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular amending the existing quota system for first and second class government jobs. However, the quota system was maintained for third and fourth class jobs.
