Thousands of Dhaka University students and government job aspirants blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka this afternoon (2 July), demanding the reinstatement of a 2018 Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) that abolished quotas in government jobs.
The students first gathered in front of the DU central library at 2:30 pm. Later, they took out a procession that marched from the central library to Nilkhet, Newmarket, Dhaka College, Science Lab, and Bata Signal, reaching the Shahbagh intersection at 3:45 pm and blocking the intersection until 4:45 pm.
Due to the blockade, a long traffic tail has formed on the roads between Bangla Motor and Shahbagh, Shahbagh and Science Lab, and Shahbagh and Kakrail.
Photo: BFirst.
The protest was sparked by a recent High Court decision declaring the government's 2018 cancellation of the 30 percent quota system for the children 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.
