Students participating in anti-quota protests were enforcing the previously announced “Bangla Blockade” program on Sunday to demand merit-based recruitment in government jobs, blocking various intersections on the capital's main roads, with some spotted playing football in the empty streets.
They had national flags tied to their heads at the time. At around 5:30pm on the main road of Paribagh, some protesting students were playing football on the empty road.
Starting at Dhaka University's central library at noon, the protesting students took positions at various important intersections of the city, including Nilkhet, Chankharpul, Science Lab, Shahbagh, Banglamotor and Agargaon.
Jasim, a student of Dhaka University's history department, said a part of their peaceful movement is sports.
Saidur Rahman Shahid, a student of Dhaka University’s Department of Communication Disorders, said: "We are carrying out a peaceful movement, and this sport is an expression of it. We are not causing any conflicts or vandalizing any vehicles.”
Many tied national flags on their hands and heads. Most of the students were holding placards with various slogans demanding the cancellation of quotas.