Quota Movement: Protesters call for coordination meeting

The quota reform protesters have scheduled a conference with representatives from all universities, colleges across Bangladesh to take place on Saturday.

Representative meetings will be held online and offline.

 Later, the new programs will be announced at a press conference at 6pm.

Dhaka University student Abu Baker Majumder, one of the coordinators of the movement, made the announcement after a protest rally and blockade program at Shahbagh on Friday afternoon.

He said: "On Thursday, our comrades were attacked in many places. We strongly condemn and protest these attacks. If any of our colleagues are attacked in the future, it will not end well." 

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During this time, he urged the government to quickly accept the demands put forth by the protesters.

Earlier, the students of Dhaka University held a protest rally and blocked the Shahbagh crossing, in response to Thursday's police action on students in several locations outside Dhaka, demanding justice.

As per the previously announced schedule, the students of Dhaka University came together in front of the central library around 4pm and brought out a protest rally, which later marched towards Shahbagh and blocked the crossing unannounced.

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Later around 4.30pm, the students of Dhaka College came to Shahbagh in procession and joined the students of Dhaka University

From there, they chanted slogans seeking justice for the police attack.

The demonstration broke up around 6.20pm, with Majumdar announcing Saturday's program before leaving Shahbagh.

Clashes between police and quota protesters left at least 30 people, including three policemen and journalists, injured in Dhaka, Comilla and Chittagong on Thursday. 

• Quota reform: 30 injured as police clash with protesters

Students and job seekers have been holding demonstrations across the country for some time demanding quota reform.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a status quo of four weeks on the issue of quotas, instructing the protesters to return to their classes and attend their exams.

Expressing their disappointment, the protesters rejected the order, announcing their intention to remain on the streets until their demand was met.