Nurul Haque Nur was a familiar face in protests demanding the abolition of quotas in government jobs, from February to September 2018. Under his leadership, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and later Gono Odhikar Parishad were formed.
In these present times, Dhaka University student Nahid Islam is leading the second phase of the anti-quota movement, following a High Court decision on June 5 to reinstate quotas for descendants of freedom fighters in first- and second-class government jobs.
Nahid has been joined in the current protests by several students who hold leadership positions in various student organizations.
Activists and leaders of various student organizations told this correspondent that several Democratic Student Force, Student Federation and Chhatra Dal leaders as well as some former leaders and activists of Chhatra League were actively involved in the ongoing student movement.
The current protests are being held under the banner of the “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” coordinated by Nahid, a sociology student and a resident of Dhaka.
When Gono Odhikar Parishad split into two factions after a conflict between Reza Kibria, convener, and Nurul Haque Nur, member secretary, at the beginning of last year, the group Democratic Student Force was formed by Nur’s followers at Dhaka University. Nahid is the member secretary of this organization.
A number of leaders of the organization said the Democratic Student Force was launched at a press conference before the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) on October 4 last year with a commitment to reform the education system, build political entities, spaces and culture, ensure student welfare, establish student-citizen politics, and reform the state and political system.
Former Ducsu social service secretary Akhtar Hossain was made convener and Nahid member secretary in a 31-member central committee.
Nahid was a candidate for the position of cultural secretary from Nurul Haque Nur's panel in the last Ducsu election.
What does Nur say?
"Those who are now leading the movement to abolish the quota system were first- and second-year students in 2018. Many of those who were involved then are now guiding [others] and taking responsibility," former Ducsu vice president Nurul Haque Nur said.
When asked about Nahid, Nur said: "Nahid Islam contested the Ducsu election from our panel. He and many others were with me in 2018. Later, when discussions about another Ducsu election came up last year, they formed the Democratic Student Force."
"In 2018, in response to the demands of the students, the government abolished the quota system, but bringing it back has caused the students to take to the streets again. Young people are joining the movement irrespective of party affiliation. Since we belong to a political party, we will support those on the ground without being directly involved."
Nur also claimed the government was spreading various forms of propaganda and would spread more to damage the movement.
"The youth in the country are politically indifferent. Youngsters responded to our call in 2018. Since we initiated this, we will have a legacy in all youth movements. Many have formed parties, but they cannot connect with the youth. Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and Gono Odhikar Parishad have been able to do this."
Nur added that the current movement was not one to overthrow the government, and the authorities should accept it and take a decision. “Otherwise, it will be clear that the government is trying to bring this system back to divert attention from other issues."
Is any political entity directly involved?
Discussions with protesters revealed that former leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal, Student Federation and Chhatra League are also involved in this movement.
Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib said his organization respected the students' intent and supported their movement. “The anti-quota movement is an apolitical one; we are respectfully playing a silent role in it.”
“After the uncontested” general election in 2014, Sheikh Hasina said voting would be participatory once again. But they did not do that and instead held dummy elections in 2018 and 2024. The same happened with the quota system. In October 2018, in response to students' demands, quotas were abolished but have been brought back again. This is fascism,” he added.
Rakibul continued: "Deception at the state level has become a habit of the Awami League government. This is why it has brought back the quota system… We are also part of this movement."
Umama Fatema, member secretary of the Dhaka University unit of the Student Federation, has been at the forefront of the protests.
She said any organization committed to student welfare was bound to support a just movement and the same went for the “discriminatory” quota system.
"However, this movement is not being conducted under the banner or plan of any student organization. General students have formed a platform, and it is being run through that. On the other hand, the government is spreading propaganda to create divisions in the movement and justify various [future] attacks and cases," Umama added.
Umama Fatema said she hoped the government would consider the reason behind the movement, rather than using it for political gains.
When asked why the quota system should be completely abolished, she explained: "The independence of Bangladesh through the Liberation War in 1971 involved almost everyone except a few political opponents and their organizations. So attempts to confine this role to a limited number of people is tantamount to denying the people's participation in the Liberation War.
"Political considerations have become important in using the freedom fighter quota. Therefore, it is time to reconsider this allocation."
Citing Bangladesh Public Service Commission data, the prime minister on Sunday said women had been deprived of jobs in the last few years, after the quota system was abolished in 2018.
In response, Umama acknowledged that there was truth to this claim.
“Women are still lagging behind in many aspects in Bangladesh, so there is a justification for having a women's quota. Similarly, there is a need for quotas for the disabled and marginalized ethnic groups.
"The same demand was raised during the 2018 movement, but instead of addressing it, the government totally abolished the quota system. Now they are trying to pin the blame on the students, which highlights the thoughtless nature of this leadership."
Several opposition parties, including the BNP, Jatiya Party, Ganatantra Mancha and AB Party, have formally voiced their support for the students’ demand to abolish the quota system.
On Sunday afternoon, the general secretary of a progressive student organization told this correspondent that the leaders and followers of Democratic Student Force were more active than others, adding that the Student Federation and Chhatra Dal were also involved with the movement.
Meanwhile, Nahid Islam, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and member secretary of the Democratic Student Force, said: "We are not carrying out this movement from any organizational standpoint. This is an open platform.”
“Many in our movement have been involved in Chhatra League politics. We did not join this movement with a party identity; we are students demanding an end to discrimination in jobs through an open platform."
Other than Nahid, DU students Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah are key coordinators of the current movement.