Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain said that while general students who joined the quota reform movement left the protests following the Supreme Court's status quo on the quota issue, some protesters have been trying to extend the movement.
During a press conference held at Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University on Thursday, he said: "Some are trying to use the movement politically and the Chhatra League is ready to face them."
The Chhatra League president called on all parties to immediately restore a normal atmosphere in educational institutions, to avoid blockades, and to spread the message of students in a democratic and equitable manner within these institutions.
He urged students to remain patient and wait for judicial observations, while also calling for a return to normalcy in educational institutions.
Chief Justice: Court door always open for anti-quota protesters"The government is sincere about this demand," he said. "Prolonging the movement in this regard is nothing but creating a kind of artificial crisis."
In his written statement, Saddam highlighted the absence of discussions on the women’s quota in the current quota movement.
He stressed the need for a women’s quota, noting that the abolition of the quota system in 2018 has reduced women's opportunities to enter government jobs, thereby hindering the country's overall progress.
He provided statistics showing a decline in female employment in government jobs post-quota abolition, citing examples from the 36th, 37th, and 38th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations compared to the 40th, 41st, and 43rd BCS.
"Due to the lifting of the quota system, women's participation in government jobs has become more marginal," Saddam said.
He referenced the United Nations' “Planet 50/50” initiative, which aims for 50% female participation in government jobs, noting that Bangladesh's rate is now less than 30%.
Saddam mentioned that the government has appealed against the High Court's verdict on the quota system, which is currently pending in the Appellate Division. He questioned whether the protesters were aware of this legal process and the necessary time it required.
He criticized the continued blockades, urging the student community to understand the state's three separate structures – legislative, judicial, and executive – and their independent operations.
Quota reform: Protesters say blockade will continueSaddam said: “The three separate structures of the state system are legislative, judicial and executive – each working separately and independently; one does not interfere in the affairs of the other. Since the executive order cancelling the quota has been cancelled by the judiciary, the law and executive can take a new decision only after the completion of its proceedings in the court. And until then we have to wait. If a movement is launched by holding the people hostage without understanding this basic concept of the state structure, they should know that no one will bow down to the intended movement.”
He emphasized that since the executive order cancelling the quota system was overturned by the judiciary, any new decision would have to wait until court proceedings are completed.
Saddam reminded students that the government had abolished the quota system and that the government's lawyer was working in favour of maintaining this decision in the High Court.
He said: “Students should remember that the government has abolished the quota system. The government's lawyer is working in favour of reinstating the decision to abolish the quota system in the High Court.”
