Chhatra League allegedly foils quota reform activists’ demo at RU

The Rajshahi University (RU) unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League has allegedly thwarted a planned demonstration of the Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad on the campus. The RU unit of the platform, which has been carrying out a movement demanding reformation of the quota system in government jobs, was scheduled to hold their program Friday afternoon, protesting against eviction of four resident students from Dhaka University’s (DU) Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall around midnight on Thursday. Witnesses said at least 15 protesters had gathered in front of RU Central Library around 4:30pm. At the same time, about 60 Chhatra League leaders and activists had staged a showdown on campus. The protesters dispersed when Chhatra League activists, led by its RU unit President Golam Kibria and General Secretary Faisal Ahmed Runu, arrived in front of the library and stayed there for a while. Protesters’ Convener Masud Monnaf said they had postponed the demonstration, but declined elaborating the reason. Runu said: “The government has agreed to meet their demands to reform the quota system. But a quarter is still trying to create instability. That is why we asked them (protesters) to refrain from demonstrating today during a meeting earlier in the day.” Regarding their showdown, he claimed it was a regular activity. “Obstructing their demonstration was not our intention.”